Correia, Sprint Medley Teams Set Program Records, Barbacci Podiums in High Jump in Season Opener
SELINSGROVE, Pa.- The Juniata women's track and field team began the indoor track season at the Susquehanna Early Season Invite on Saturday with a pair of podiums and new program records.
The Eagles' sprint medley team set the program's best-ever time and claimed third place on the day; Nandee Correia set a new program record in the weight, while Olivia Barbacci claimed second place in the high jump and tied for the program's third-best mark in the event.
The sprint medley team of Ashley Alfree, Zoe Biles, Olivia Barbacci, and Camille McRoberts logged a 4:43.9 to claim third place and establish a new best time in the program's history. The previous best mark of 5:00.33 was set in February 2000 at the Slippery Rock Relays.
Nandee Correia's record-shattering mark of 14.08 meters in the weight throw earned her fourth place in the event, while she bested the program's previous-best mark of 13.31 meters, set by Kylie Orndorf '19 at the Highlander Invitational in January of 2019.
Olivia Barbacci claimed second place in the high jump with a mark of 1.57 meters, drawing level with Erika Brown '12, a mark set at the Susquehanna Open in February of 2009.
Ashley Alfree and Josephine Kelly also competed in the high jump, with Alfree setting a new personal best with a mark of 1.42 meters to finish in 17th place. Her previous best was 1.40 meters at the Blue and White Invitational at Franklin & Marshall College this February. Kelly was unable to set a high
Kelly and Biles each set their first indoor 60-meter times for Juniata. Biles posted. A 9.00 to earn 41st place from the field of 50, while Kelly was 47th with a time of 9.47.
McRoberts' first-mile time for Juniata was 6:10.64, good enough for 17th place from 26 competing.
Kelsey Covert was Juniata's lone competitor in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200 meters. She claimed 20th place in the hurdles in her collegiate debut with a time of 11.21, while she was 49th in the 200 meters, finishing in 31.07
In addition to Correia's historic mark, Justice Sheaffer and Kaleah Leisher also competed in the weight throw. Sheaffer finished in 31st place with a mark of 4.18 meters, while Leisher was in 30th place with a mark of 6.21 meters. All three also logged shot put marks. Correia had the team's best distance at 10.22 meters to finish in tenth place. Leisure was next with a mark of 8.72 for 25th place, while Sheaffer was 34th with a mark of 7.22 meters.
The Juniata women's track and field team returns from the winter break on Saturday, January 20th, at the Moravian University Indoor Meet hosted by Lehigh University's Rauch Fieldhouse.