Amaechi Sets Princeton Discus Record in Her First Outing

Friday, April 6

Princeton, N.J.

10:00 AM

Princeton University

Sam Howell Invitational

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Amaechi Sets Princeton Discus Record in Her First Outing

April 06, 2018 | Women's Track and Field

RESULTS

PRINCETON, N.J. (4/6/18) - Highly-touted discus thrower freshman Obiageri Amaechi did not disappoint in her first outing in the event for Princeton. Amaechi won the discus with a throw of 52.69 (172-10), a Princeton record surpassing Nonny Okwelogu's mark of 48.59 from 2012. It is also the sixth best throw in the history of the Ivy League. Amaechi, who was fourth at the 2017 Pan America Jr. Games, hit 46.84 on her first attempt, 52.47 on her second, a foul, 49.46, 36.60 and then 52.69on her final throw. Amaechi's day wasn't finished as she took fourth in the shot put with a throw of 13.87 (45-6.25).

"We were coming into this meet as a home meet opportunity to start sharpening up on certain things," head coach Michelle Eisenreich said. "Though we are still training really hard, we were not expecting monster performances."

Fellow thrower senior Kennedy O'Dell had an outstanding afternoon as well. She took second in the discus with a PR of 47.92 (157-10) on her first attempt. O'Dell takes over second place all time at Princeton, a slot held by Olympian Debbie St. Phard since 1987. O'Dell has now PR'ed in the discus in both meets she's competed at this year. She finished her day with a second-place finish in the hammer throw with a PR of 57.89 (189-11), which ranks her third all-time at Princeton. Sandwiching those two events, O'Dell was third in the shot put with a 14.27 (46-10).

Freshman Julia Harisay was sixth in the shot put with a throw of 12.82 (42-0.75) on her fifth attempt and also placed fifth in the javelin with a throw of 38.33 (125-9).

The high jump was won by freshman Lindsey Schmidt with a clearance of 1.62 (5-3.75). She passed on the two opening heights of 1.47 and 1.52 and easily made it over 1.57 and 1.62 on her first attempts at each. Sophomore Hadley Wilhoite was seventh and junior Frances Lodge was 10th as each cleared 1.57 (5-1.75).

Senior Delaney Kerkhof was third in the triple jump. She delivered on her final jump improving from fifth place to third from 10.88 to 11.08 (36-4.25). In the long jump, freshman Katie Barnett was ninth with a 5.28 (17-4) on her second jump.

The first track event of the day saw the Tigers 4x100 relay of Heide Baron, Christina Walter, Ellie Randolph and Katie DiFrancesco take second place at 46.48. Baron and Walter also made up the second and third legs of the winning 4x400 relay. With Ashley Willingham leading off and Samantha Anderson closing the relay held first place the entire race to cross the line at 3:54.27.

Walter was also second individually in the 100 at 12.03.

DiFrancesco won the 400 clocking a time of 56.68 in heat 2 for the top time overall Willingham and Anderson went 4-5 at 57.64 and 57.73 while Heide Baron and junior Allison Glossinger placed seventh and ninth at 57.92 and 59.07.

Sophomore Devon Block-Funkhouser won the 400 hurdles at 1:01.27, and senior Carly Bonnet was third at 1:02.55. In the high hurdles, junior Ellie Randolph was second at 14.43.

Junior Anna Jurew won the seeded 800 race out of 35 at 2:10.33. She had splits of 1:04.63, 1:05.71. Sophomore Madeleine Sumner and freshman Sophie Cantine went 7-8. Sumner clocked 2:12.50 (1:05.04, 1:07.46) and Cantine 2:12.56 (1:04.84, 1:07.73)

In the 1500, junior Brighie Leach was second at 4:32.07 (56.43, 1:15.44, 1:12.53, 1:07.68) to take first in heat one and second overall. Senior Delaney Miller was fifth at 4:33.46 (56.12, 1:11.64, 1:12.71, 1:13.00).

Freshman Katherine Leggat-Barr was sixth in the steeplechase at 11:06.03.

Junior Allie Klimkiewicz was the winner of the final race of the day, the women's 5k. She had a time of 16:38.97 (39.10, 1:22.55, 1:21.61, 1:19.78, 1:19.67, 1:20.04, 1:20.44, 1:20.84, 1:21.00, 1:21.40, 1:21.92, 1:18.34, 1:12.35). At the 3000 meter-mark she was in fourth place before steadily moved her way up over the last 2k, pushing into first on the final lap. Freshman Melia Chittenden clocked 16:45.87 for third. She moved into fourth place at the 2200-meter mark and maintained her standing ticking off one additional runner in the final lap.