Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU track & field team continued its indoor season Saturday with its final tuneup before the 2021 Horizon League Championships, defeating Denison, 71-69, on the final event of the day in a head-to-head matchup at Mitchell Fieldhouse in Granville, Ohio.
The final event of the competition that helped push the Colonials over the top was the 600-meter, which was won by freshman
Rio Strosnider with a time of 1:45.24. Strosnider was one of six RMU student-athletes to claim individual titles Saturday at Denison.
Fellow rookie
Gracie Parker claimed gold in three events for the Colonials. She won the qualifying round of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.24 seconds, then won the finals with a time of 9.33. Parker also won the 60-meter (8.18) and 200-meter (28.14) dashes.
RESULTS: Denison Invitational (2/20/21)
In the field events, senior
Kaitlyn Hawkins won the pole vault at 3.50 meters (11'5.75"), while junior
Tara Gologram finished first in the long jump at 5.05 meters (16'6.75").
In the throws, junior
Keturah Hunter won another individual title in the weight throw, while senior
Estelle Katende did the same in the shot put. Hunter posted a toss of 18.37 meters (60'3.25"), while Katende unleashed a heave of 13.62 meters (44'8.25").
Also in the throws for the Colonials, senior
Yessie Valencia grabbed silver in both the weight throw and shot put, while sophomore
Alijah Caul earned bronze in both events.
Valencia established a personal record in the shot put with a distance of 12.48 meters (40'11.5") while recording a toss of 16.19 meters (53'1.50") in the weight throw. Caul, meanwhile, finished at 11.27 (36'11.75") and 14.08 (46'2.50") meters, respectively, in the same events.
Strosnider was also a member of RMU's 4x400-meter relay team that finished first, clocking in at 4:22.452. She ran the second leg and was joined by sophomore
Elicia Moore, senior
Brooke Oldfin and sophomore
Lauren Chappell.
The Colonials open the 2021 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday, Feb. 26, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Purdue Fort Wayne serves as host.
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