UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's track & field team was back in action at the Utica University Winter Opener on Friday.

"We had a strong showing at the competition," Head Coach Matt Phillips '10 said. "Some very good performances, especially this early in the season. We still have a long season ahead of us. So to be in this spot in the middle of January is very promising."

Leading the way for the Saxons was Anne Spila (Mechanicsburg, PA/Trinity) who posted the best time in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles by a time of 9.54. She later shaved off 0.09 seconds to register 9.45 and finished second overall during the finals. Spila added a seventh-place finish in the high jump on a 1.40-m (4'-7") performance.

Annabelle Townsend (Woodsville, NH/Woodsville) set a time of 1:24.20 to earn second in her first career appearance in the 500-meter dash. 

McKenzie Hall (Hornell, NY/Hornell) notched a personal best time of 3:19.70 to earn second in her heat and ninth overall in the 1000-meter run. Octavia Fred (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) earned a PR time of 32.04 in the 200-meter dash. 

Zoe Rainville (Saranac, NY/Saranac) Spila, Fred and Townsend were a part of the 4x200-meter relay team that earned a fourth-place finish at 1:56.10.

In throws, Natalya Ryckman (New Eagle, PA/Ringgold) registered a personal best 11.43m (37'-6") for ninth place in the weight throw. Meridian Bremel (Reading, Vt./Woodstock Union) added a 10th place finish in the shot put with a 8.96m (29'-4.75") throw.

The Saxons will next return to Houghton University for the Highlander Invitational at 10:30am on Saturday, January 25.