Women's Track and Field Sets Several Personal Records at Messiah Invitational

MECHANICSBURG, Pa.- The Juniata women's track and field team competed on the last day of the Messiah Invitational on Saturday.  

The Eagles competed in four track events that included the 4x100 meter relay, 4x400 meter relay, 200-meter dash, and 400-meter dash.  

The team of Rebecca Christophel, Zoe Biles, Olivia Barbacci, and Ashley Alfree competed in the 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. The Eagles reduced their first 4x400 time of the season by over nine seconds with a 4:20.76 to claim fifth place in a field of 10. Juniata also logged a 4x100 time for the first-time season, finishing in 12th with a time of 54.20.  

Barbacci led the way for Juniata in the 200-meter dash, posting a 27.63 to finish 22nd out of 63. Biles set a personal best in the event, taking three-tenths off her time set at the Jim Taylor Invitational in March with a 30.32 to claim 51st.  

Christophel set her best 400-meter time of 2023 with a 1:02.51 that placed her in 14th place out of 52. 

The Eagles competed in four field events, including the javelin throw, shot put, high jump, and pole vault. 

Emma Coolidge set a personal record in the javelin throw with a 32.88-meter throw to finish in seventh place out of 38. She improves on a 32.56-meter mark set at the Millersville Metrics in early April. She also competed in the shot put, finishing in 23rd place with a mark of 9.65 meters. 

Alfree logged a 1.36-meter high jump to claim 12th place from 24. 

Both she and Barbacci competed in the pole vault but could not clear the bar in their attempts. 

The Eagles will venture to Shippensburg University for the Ship Mid-Week Meet on Wednesday.