MYRTLE BEACH, SC– The Alfred University women's track & field team completed its Spring Break competition to start the 2023 outdoor season at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge on Saturday.
 
The Saxons were one of 24 teams to score a point during the two-day invitational as they finished 14^th out of 26 scoring teams. McKenzie Hall (Hornell, NY/Hornell) had the top individual finish as she took third in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:20.12 for six points. Mari Jablonski (Monticello, GA/Jasper County) followed with four points with her time of 11:35.47 in fifth place. Hall was close to another scoring finish in the 5,000-meter run, finishing ninth with a time of 19:46.60.
 
"After an exciting, sunny and warm week down in Myrtle Beach, we ended our Spring Break trip with our first outdoor meet of the season," Interim Head Coach Matt Phillips '10 said. "It was a two-day meet with 29 teams from 10 states and we had some outstanding performances. Despite a less-than ideal event schedule, many of our athletes persevered."
 
Ashley O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) ran in her first 3,000-meter steeplechase as a Saxon to finish sixth with a time of 14:08.49 and scored three points towards the team total. AU's 4x100-meter relay team finished fourth for five points with a time of 53.51. The team was made up of Bianca Durso (Utica, NY/New Hartford Senior), Lina Young (North Collins, NY/North Collins), Natalya Ryckman (New Eagle, PA/Ringgold) and Anne Spila (Mechanicsburg, PA/Trinity).
 
In the field, Durso was one position out of scoring in the high jump, finishing ninth with a height of 1.43m (4'-8.25").
 
The Saxons will next travel to Selinsgrove, PA for a two-day meet at Susquehanna University on Friday, March 24.