TF2K22: 2 Meets

Louisville Cardinal Open Recap

The women of Kentucky showed up to their rival school and had a strong day on the track at the Louisville Cardinal Classic, Dec. 11.

Sprinters Shadajah Ballard and Kaylyn Heath placed first and second in the 60 meters for Kentucky. Ballard clocked in at 7.38, ahead of Heath's 7.46. The win was Ballard's first open victory of her collegiate career, which started during the 2020 indoor season. The Kentucky duo finished ahead of Quantasia Perry who placed third for Eastern Kentucky at 7.52.

Heath earned a win in the 200 meters with a time of 23.91. This was the first open win of her career as well and was her personal best time. Heath edged out Masai Russell's time of 23.93. Perry recorded another third place finish, crossing the finish line of the 200 meters in 24 seconds.

Kentucky finished in the top three spots of the 300 meters, with Abby Steiner winning at 35.80. Dajour Miles and Karimah Davis placed second and third at 37.62 and 38.54 respectively.

The Wildcats earned another win in the 500 meters behind Alexis Holmes' time of 1:12.59. Her teammate Megan Moss was second at 1:13.21 and Katie Martin of Louisville was third at 1:15.12.

Host Louisville got a solid win from transfer Taylor Boggess in the 800 meters. She won her race at 2:20.94. The Cardinals also got the top two finishes in the 3,000 meters when Kassidy Dill and Lexie Paszkiewicz came in first and second at 10:23.32 and 10:30.49.

The previously mentioned Masai Russell won the 60-meter hurdles at 8.16. It was her first win in the 60-meter hurdles since the 2020 season when she won at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

Kentucky's Darci Khan and Kendall Jordan were second and third in the 60-meter hurdles with times of 8.49 and 8.65. Siobhan Szerencsits of Kentucky beat out Louisville's Gabriela Leon and Aliyah Welter in the pole vault competition. Szerencsits won with a mark of 4.33, ahead of Leon's 4.18 and Welter's 4.03.

Addie Wanner took a victory for Louisville in the high jump at 1.65. It was the senior's first win of any kind in her career. The Cardinals also grabbed the top two spots in the triple jump as Riley Burger and Styliana Ioannidou recorded respective marks of 11.70 and 11.68.

Kentucky freshman Anaytha Charlton won the long jump in her first meet. She jumped 5.99. She also placed fourth in the 60 meters and eighth in the 200 meters.

The Wildcats dominated the throws as Jade Gates won the weight throw at 19.18 and Molly Leppelmeier took the shot put at 15.12.

Hoosier Open Recap

Caisja Chandler and her Cincinnati Bearcat teammates shined as expected at the 2021 Hoosier Open in Bloomington, Indiana, Dec. 10.

The All-American sprinter took wins in the 60 meters and 300 meters with times of 7.48 and 37.70 respectively. Chandler made her collegiate debut at the Hoosier Open in 2018 when she placed fifth in the 300 with a time of 39.27. Back then she labored through the race and appeared exhausted after crossing the finish line. This year, Chandler seemed to breeze through the race as she crossed the finish line first.

The Bearcats also thrived in the long jump and triple jump competition as Anaya Dees won the long jump at 5.90, ahead of Indiana's Paola Fernandez-Sola's mark of 5.83. Third place Kennedy Marable came in at 5.70 before winning the triple jump at 12.65.

Host Indiana was successful in its home meet. Morgan Snow took the 200 meters in 24.51. Three Hoosiers took the top three spots in the 400 meters as Janii Jenkins (56.21), Lauren Thomas (56.22) and Kaylee Lane (56.41). Hoosier Hope Purcell (8.53) edged out Cincinnati's Victoria Abunaw (8.55) in the 60-meter hurdles.

Indiana freshman Jayden Ulrich was successful at her first meet with a dominant win in the shot put. She threw 16.68 on her first throw which was good enough to win the competition. Her mark is currently fourth best in the NCAA for the season.