Tigers Showcase Team Depth With Strong Performance at Sam Howell

Saturday, April 4

Princeton, N.J.

Princeton University

Sam Howell Invitational

Pia Beaulieu Steeplechase Sam Howell 2026

Photo by: Joshua Gao

Tigers Showcase Team Depth With Strong Performance at Sam Howell

April 04, 2026 | Women's Track and Field

PRINCETON, N.J. – Winning 10 events across all event groups, the Princeton women's and field dominated as it hosted the Sam Howell Invitational on Saturday, showcasing the team's versatility as Tigers tallied school top-10 marks and approached new personal and program records.

A 4x100 relay squad of Brooke Jackson, Maisha Atkinson, Laila Payne and Franziska Burchett set a new meet record as they ran a blazing 45.35 to kick off the day. The mark ranks second all-time in the Princeton record book, just off from the program record of 45.19.

Jackson and Atkinson also took second and third, respectively, in the 100m dash, clocking in at 11.73 and 11.76. Jackson's time puts her at third on the all-time program leaderboard, with Atkinson ranking fourth.

Having a day, Atkinson also took second in the 200m. Her time of 23.70 is just .02 seconds off from her personal best 23.68.

First-year Payne took second place in the 400m, running 55.30 for eighth in the school record book.

Hannah Riggins won the 1500m final with a time of 4:21.48. Meg Madison (4:22.62) and Emma De Jong (4:25.61) were behind her in third and fourth.

First-year Caroline Barton won the 5000m by a margin of 14 seconds, clocking in at 16:36.76 as the talented distance runner made her collegiate outdoor 5k debut.

Julia Jongejeugd won the 100m hurdles, clocking in at 13.80 - just .02 seconds off from her personal best. Giselle Kirchner was right behind her in second at 14.00.

Pia Beaulieu won the 3000m steeplechase, clocking in at 10:30.86 as she set a new personal best.

In the field events, Tessa Mudd set a new meet record as she cleared 4.20m/13-9.25 in the pole vault. First-year Lotte Gretzler was behind her in second after clearing 4.10m/13-5.25.

Alex Kelly won the triple jump with a mark of 13.21/43-4.25. She was just off from matching her PR of 13.23m. After consistently clearing 13m this indoor season, it is also the first time she's jumped over 13m outdoors since setting her personal best in 2023.

Layla Giordano continued a strong week as she set a new outdoor best in the shot put with a meet-record of 15.65m/51-4.25. Winning the event, she also won the discus (54.53m) for the second time this week after setting the Ivy League record and an NCAA #1 mark on Tuesday.

Angela McAuslan-Kelly won the weight throw with a first-attempt throw of 64.71m/212-3. In early April, she's not far off from matching her personal best 65.65m set at last year's Princeton Elite.

In its first full team showing of the outdoor season, the Tigers picked back up with the momentum gained this indoor season as they tallied strong performances up and down the roster.

Next, the Tigers will head to Georgia for the Spec Towns Invitational next Friday and Saturday.