ROCHESTER, NY – The Alfred University women's track & field team concluded their regular season schedule with their whole team competing at the St. John Fisher Cardinal Classic on Saturday.
 
The Saxons competed against Division I schools, University of Buffalo and Le Moyne, Division II Roberts Wesleyan and Mercyhurst and multiple Division III schools including Empire 8 foes, St. John Fisher University and Houghton University and soon-to-be E8 opponent, SUNY Brockport. Within Division III, the Saxons had two first place finishes and two second place finishes. Overall, they had two second place finishes and two third place finishes.
 
Olivia Gilbert (Ontario, NY/Wayne Central) was just short of claiming first place overall in the 400-meter dash, clocking a time of 59.45, just shy of UB's runner's time of 59.17. Gilbert still finished first among D3 opponents.
 
Anne Spila (Mechanicsburg, PA/Trinity) also took second overall in the 100-meter hurdles but was first among Division III runners. She was the third seed entering the finals after running a 15.98 before claiming second place with a time of 15.96 behind the hurdler from Roberts Wesleyan. Spila was not along in the finals as she had not one, but two teammates running in it as well. Bianca Durso (Utica, NY/New Hartford Senior) took fifth place with a time of 17.47 and Natalya Ryckman (New Eagle, PA/Ringgold) finished sixth with a time of 17.48, running 0.20 faster than her prelim time.
 
Durso and Spila continued their strong performances in the high jump. Durso finished third overall and second against Division III jumpers, clearing 1.52m (4'-11.75"). Spila was seventh in the event with a clearance at 1.42m (4'-7.75"). The duo were joined earlier by Annabelle Townsend (Woodsville, NH/Woodsville) and Zoe Rainville (Saranac, NY/Saranac) in the 4x100-meter relay. The team (in running order) of Durso, Townsend, Rainville and Spila caught up to both Fisher and the team from Alfred State College to finish third overall and second within Division III. Their time of 51.58 bested A-State's time of 51.81.
 
Townsend was joined by Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) as the two ran an entertaining heat of the 800-meter run. Both ran E8-qualifying times as Townsend clocked in a 2:31.41 while Lutkins hit a season-best time of 2:35.31.
 
The Saxons will next turn their attention towards the Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championships at St. John Fisher University on Friday, May 3, starting at 1:30pm and Saturday, May 4, starting at 10:00am.