SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – On Saturday, the Trine University women's track and field program was in action at the Steemer Showcase, hosted by Wittenberg University. The Thunder were eighth out of 18 teams in total, but fourth among NCAA DIII programs.
The highlight of the event was several performances by junior Mackenzie Miller. Miller was able to set a new school record in the 60-meter dash at 7.89 seconds. She brought down the previous record that was held by her now coach Haley Livingston. Miller was fifth in the meet's shortest sprint. She also scored points in the 200-meter dash with an eighth-place time of 26.36 seconds, narrowly missing that school record mark, as well as a third-place score of 5.45 meters (17' 10.75") in the long jump.
Distance events also saw Trine student-athletes score points. Sophomore Bailey Puckett was third in the mile run at 5:07.34 but was the best-finishing NCAA DIII athlete in the race. Junior Lydia Randolph was the top finisher for the Thunder in both the 5000- and 3000-meter runs. Randolph was third in the 5000 with a time of 18:27.33 and eighth in the 3000 at 10:30.28.
Sophomore Brynn Mericle was seventh in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.75 seconds but was able to reach the event finals after hitting 9.68 seconds in the preliminary trial. The duo of freshman Halle Overmire (2:24.27) and freshman Sophia Altman (2:24.82) were seventh and eighth in the 800-meter run to pace Trine. Sophomore Kristin Baker concluded the track events with a 19th-place time of 1:02.64 in the 200-meter dash.
In field events, sophomore Avery Boyce was tied for eighth in the pole vault at 3.05 meters (10' 0.00"). Freshman Isabel Ferguson competed in the high jump and placed in a tie for 13th overall at 1.46 meters (4' 9.50"). Freshman Macy Bonifield was the team's top scorer in both the weight throw in 20th (11.47 meters / 37' 7.75") and 23rd in the shot put (9.90 meters / 32' 5.75").
After inclement weather forced the cancellation of the team's first home event, the Thunder will be at home on Friday, February 2 for the Mrs. G Alumni Invitational.
