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Bears Cruise to Title at Washington University Invitational

Bears Cruise to Title at Washington University Invitational
Posted: Apr 01, 2017

From Washington University Athletics

The Washington University in St. Louis women's track and field program took the title at the WashU Invitational Saturday evening at Bushyhead track.

The WashU women finished the invitational with 287 points, more than doubling runner-up Illinois Wesleyan's 117.

Seniors Rebecca Ridderhoff, Ashley Knudson, junior Annalise Wagner and freshman Sara Mesiano ran to a first place finish in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:52.33. The time ranks as the third best this season in Division III and the fifth best was achieved by seniors Daisy Ogede, Kelli Hancock and freshmen Nicky Althoff and Anna Cossio who placed second (3:55.56).

Ridderhoff placed first in the 400 hurdles with the top Division III time, 1:00.47 as Hancock placed second. Hancock's 1:01.35 time ranks third in the country.

Ogede ran to a first place finish in the 100 hurdles and 100 dash. She crossed the finish line in 14.50 seconds during the hurdles and 12.08 for the dash. Ogede's hurdle time ranks second in the nation while Ridderhoff was a split second behind her with a time of 14.65, which ranks third in the country. Ogede's 100 dash time is fifth in the country. The Bears totaled the top-5 times in the hurdles as Caitlin Cheeseboro (15.64), Cienna Jordan (15.79) and Jay Pittman (15.91) followed Ogede and Ridderhoff.

The 4x100 relay led by sophomore Jay Pittman, Hancock, Ridderhoff and Ogede ran to a 48.37 time, which ranks eighth in the nation. On the men's side, Wintergalen, sophomore CJ Chin, Singer and junior Roderick Smith finished the course in 42.57 for the 16th best time in Division III this season.

Junior Audrey Western ran to a first place finish in the 1,500 with the 10th best time in Division III this season, 4:39.40 while sophomore Abby Martin also finished with the nation's 10th best time in the steeplechase, 11:21.74. Martin was first among the competitors at the WashU Invite as the Bears totaled the top-4 times with sophomore Molly Shepherd (11:30.07), sophomore Lisa Gorham (11:42.39) and junior Mattie Gottbrath (11:58.22).