December 12, 2009

CARLISLE, PA – The York College women’s track & field squad began their 2009-2010 slate Saturday at the Dickinson College Holiday Invitational. The Green and White saw four runner-up finishes while taking nine top-fives.

Fresh off yet another stellar season with York’s cross country team, senior Melody Parshall (York, Pa./Homeschooled) notched second in the 3,000-meter run. She opened her final track campaign by tallying an 11:31.44.

Caitlin Rizzardo (Jacobus, Pa./Dallastown), the Capital Athletic Conference’s outdoor pole-vault record-holder and 2008 league champion, began the defense her title at the Dickinson Invitational. The junior recorded 9’ in the event to take second on the day.

Sophomore Kate Paczynski (Marriottsville, Md./Liberty) grabbed the Spartans’ final individual second-place finish as she leapt 4’ 7.75” in the high jump.

The Green and White’s top 4x400 squad also nabbed second with a time of 4:28.17.

Newcomer Meghan Jackson posted third for the Spartans in the shot put, launching it 31’ 11.25”.

Katrina Cooper (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont), who now enters her sophomore campaign, came in fourth in the 55-meter hurdles, crossing the line at 9.89.

Mackenzie Kauffman (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley), Ally Montello (Adamstown, Md. /Urbana), and Laura Zimmerman (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) each notched fifth-place spots for the York side. Kauffman grabbed fifth in the 1 mile (610.85), Montello in the 400-meter dash (1:20.50), and Zimmerman in the 200 meters (29.56).

Senior captain Alaina Smelko (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) came in sixth in the triple jump with a 31’ 6” result while Megan Verde (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) recorded 14’ 4” in the long jump to take a tie for seventh.

The Green and White now must face the difficult task of waiting over two months before competition resumes. York is next scheduled to compete in the Susquehanna Indoor Invitational on Saturday, February 13.

RESULTS - courtesy of Dickinson College sports information

Melody Parshall photo courtesy of Charlie Covell