April 27, 2008

SHIPPENSBURG, PA – The York College women’s track & field team wrapped up their 2008 season Saturday afternoon at the Paul Kaiser Classic hosted by Shippensburg University. The Spartans placed in the top-15 eleven times during the meet.

Following a strong performance at last weekend’s Capital Athletic Conference championships, the Spartan pole-vaulters again put forth a solid showing. Caitlin Rizzardo (Jacobus, Pa./Dallastown), who owns the CAC title, vaulted to a height of 3.20 meters to earn second place, York’s highest finish of the day. Anna Hershner (Glen Rock, Pa./Susquehannock) tied for ninth after a 2.75-meter vault, while Kristen Cronise (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) tied for 14th by clearing 2.44 meters.

The York throwers also backed up last weekend’s stellar showing with another strong meet. Sarah Becker (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion), the CAC’s best in the hammer, took fifth in her favored event with a toss of 38.73 meters. One of York’s promising freshmen, Caitlin Mahan (Delran, N.J./Delran), earned a trio of top-15 finishes. She was 12th in the hammer (31.44 meters), 13th in the shot put (9.68 meters), and 15th in the discus (28.84 meters). Mackenzie Dolan (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) grabbed 14th in the shot put with a heave of 9.30 meters.

Alaina Smelko (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) captured 13th in the triple jump, amassing a distance of 10.29 meters with her trio of bounds.

On the track, Allyson Montello (Adamstown, Md./Urbana) garnered the Spartans’ top finish, coming in 13th in the 100-meter dash. Montello registered a time of 13.70 to earn her spot in the top-15. York’s 4x400 team of Montello, Smelko, Mackenzie Kauffman (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley), and Melody Parshall (Dover, Pa./Homeschooled) took seventh in the relay with a time of 4:30.16. Parshall recorded an admirable time of 5:09.45 in the 1500-meter run, coming in 22nd out of 67 runners.

The Shippensburg meet concludes the Spartan season. With Becker as the only senior on the roster, the Spartans gained valuable experience this season that will pay dividends in the future.

MEET RESULTS - courtesy of Shippensburg University Sports Information

Caitlin Mahan photo courtesy of Scott Guise