NEWARK, Del. – Runner-up finishes for rookie Skylar Bathelmes in the javelin and senior Shelby Cuddeback in the 10,000-meters highlighted the start of the meet for the Elon University women’s track and field team at the Colonial Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 5, at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
After the opening day, the Phoenix sat in second in the overall standings with 38 points. Towson jumped out on the first day with 68 points while William & Mary sat third with 28.5. Host Delaware posted 17.5 points for fourth while James Madison rounded out the top-five with 14.
Barthelmes had a throw of 131’ 11 (40.21m) in the javelin throw as the freshman finished second overall for the Phoenix. It was the second-best throw of the season in the event for the Dartmouth, Mass., native.
Cuddeback received All-CAA honors in the 10,000-meters for the second straight season after her runner-up performance. The Attleboro, Mass., native ran a 35:53.08 in the race for the Phoenix. Freshman Sophia Tasslemyer finished in the top-four of the race with her new personal-record of 36:21.81 – the fourth-best time in school history.
Emily Dixon got off to a great start on the opening day as she attempts to defend her title in the heptathlon. The Bath, England, native had a first-place finish in the heptathlon high jump with a cleared height of 5’ 5” (1.65m) and was the runner-up in the 200-meter race with a time of 26.59. She finished the day in the lead with 3,002 points in the heptathlon.
Briana O’Grady was fifth in the hammer throw after setting a new personal-record in the event. The South Kingstown, R.I., native had a throw of 169’ 3” (51.58m) for the Phoenix to earn five points for the team.
The Phoenix also added six points from the long jump. Senior Carrie Abraham was fifth overall with her leap of 18’ 8.5” (5.70m) while rookie Melody Burke was in the top-seven of the event with her leap of 18’ 2.25” (5.54m).
In the pole vault, Nicole Karabas and Ellie Bennett were fifth and sixth overall in the event. Both athletes cleared the bar at 10’ 11.75” (3.35m) with Karabas edging out her teammate after needing fewer attempts to clear.
Elon also set itself up for the final day of the meet with athletes qualifying for the final round of their respective events. Senior Kimberly Johansen clocked a preliminary-best time of 4:37.92 in the 1,500-meters and was third in the prelims of the 800-meters with a time of 2:13.89. Chelsea Smith joined Johansen in the finals of the 800-meters after she ran a qualifying time of 2:15.98.
Freshman Melissa Anastasakis and junior Brigid Brennan also qualified for the finals in the 1,500-meters. Anastasakis ran a time of 4:42.44 in the prelims and was sixth while Brennan was ninth with her time of 4:36.61.
Dixon just qualified for the finals of the 100-meter hurdles after she clocked a prelim time of 14.67.
The Phoenix will return to Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium for the final day of the 2017 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday, May 6. The last day of competition starts at 10 a.m. with field events. Running events begin at noon.