Ravens Record Four Wins, Four Second-Place Finishes in AU Indoor Invitational

The Anderson University women's track and field team recorded four wins and four second-place finishes in Saturday's AU Indoor Invitational at Kardatzke Wellness Center.

"All in all, it was a good day for the Ravens," Coach Sol Stephens said. "On both sides, we had event winners, which is always a plus. We had some pretty good performances again from the women's side."

Mariah Murray won the high jump, clearing a height of 1.60 meters (5 feet, 3 inches) for the third time this season. On the high jump leaderboard, she is tied for first in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) and tied for 40th in the nation. Murray raced to third place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.68 seconds. She also clocked a 60-meter dash time of 8.27 seconds.

"Mariah has been consistent at a decent number. We just need to continue to show some progression with where we're trying to go. She then double-backed with pretty good times in the 60 and 200 for her."

The Ravens fielded a 4,000 distance medley relay of Noelle Loller, Katelyn Englert, Makayla Barbour and Rebecca Gregg, which claimed second with a time of 13 minutes, 59.60 seconds. Gregg started closing in on the leaders as the anchor, but ran out of time. The Ravens currently lead the HCAC in the 4,000 distance medley relay.

"The DMR ran pretty well. It's the first time we've put together a women's DMR group in a couple of years and that race was actually compelling. Noelle got us off to a great start. Katelyn and Makayla held their spots. Rebecca tried to pull it home, but just ran out of real estate."

Loller followed up by taking first (5:53.94) in the 1 mile.

"An hour later, Noelle ran the mile and won that with a time that was great for her."

Gregg also ran another race on short turnaround and rolled to first (3:28.88) in the 1,000 by a margin of 26.55 seconds.

Victoria Baver charged to second (1:03.89) in the 400, coming in 0.22 seconds behind the leader. The Garrett native finished second in the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.45 meters (4 feet, 9 inches).

"Victoria got second in a race down to the wire in the 400. She's been working on getting her fitness together. We know what we need to do; now we just need to put it into action."

Donna Lenos earned first in the pole vault, clearing a height of 2.45 meters (8 feet, 0.5 inches).

Englert sprinted to second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 10.64 seconds. The Birdseye native set a personal record (PR) by 0.27 seconds. Englert also clocked a 200 PR time of 29.16 seconds.

Emily Kelley took third in the weight throw, posting a PR distance of 13.26 meters (43 feet, 6 inches). She currently ranks fifth in the HCAC in the weight throw.

"The women's group is taking steps in the right direction."

Anderson battles in the Small College Invitational next Friday at 6 p.m. in Greencastle. The Ravens continue to progress to the HCAC Championships on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. in Terre Haute.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the fellowship and the comradery of the men and the women combined. Of all things right now, that is what I'm most pleased with. This is what a team, a family, the Ravens should symbolize and that's what they're giving me. Everything is a growth process day-by-day and the group as a whole is displaying those properties that we ask from them and I'm a proud coach. I'm happy with the group. We definitely took a step in the right direction."