STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
The Niagara University women’s track and field team will open its season at the 22nd Annual Monmouth Season Opener on Saturday.
The 2017 Purple Eagles return 19 letterwinners, including Caroline Hampton (Mid-Distance), Kayla Murphy (Mid-Distance), Mara Skordynski (Sprinter), Monique McBride (Sprints/Long Jump), Jamie Guadagno (Sprinter/Long Jumper), and Maggie Gerard (Throws). Christine Kloiber begins her fourth season in charge of the program.
Niagara concluded the 2016 MAAC Championships medaling in five events and finished in eight placed ahead of Siena and Canisius. The Purple Eagles were tabbed tied for eighth with Canisius in the 2017 MAAC Preseason Poll.
Niagara competed in two indoor exhibitions on January 27-28 and on February 18 hosted by The College of Brockport Golden Eagles. The 4x400m relay team of Mara Skordynski, Kelly Nichols, Caroline Hampton and Sarah Grubbs earned a first place finish with a time of 4:14.95. Senior Mara Skordynski ran the 400m in a time of 1:00.82 earning her a fist place finish in day 2. Sophomore Maggie Gerard and Freshman Morgan Palmer finished third and fifth place, respectively, in the shot put with throws of 11.95m and 11.48m, respectively. Niagara had two top-10 finishes in the 5000m run, seniors Kayla Murphy and Megan Helf finished with times of 20:27.54 and 20:33.19 giving them 7th and 8th place, respectively, in the event. In the 60m dash, sophomore Jamie Guadagno and Freshman Akira Thornton finished in with times of 8.12 and 8.21 which earned them second and third place, respectively.
