From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis women's track & field program flexed its way to multiple victories during the WashU Mini Meet in the outdoor track & field opener Friday evening.
The women accumulated 209 points to claim first ahead of runner-up Lindenwood University's 168 points.
The WashU women totaled eight first place finishes including the 4x400 relay. Annalise Wagner, Kelli Hancock, Ashley Knudson and Daisy Ogede combined to outpace their teammates who placed second with a time of 3:49.94, which ranks first nationally. Nicky Althoff, Anna Bailes, Briana Belfiore and Sara Mesiano ran the race in 4:04.93.
Several of those Bears ran to individual titles including: Ogede (400 – 57.15), Mesiano (800 – 2:22.21), Wagner (1,500 – 4:41.63) and Hancock (400 hurdles – 1:01.53). Hancock's time is the top mark of Division III during the 2017 outdoor season. Ogede's mark ranks second, while Althoff's 58.72 runner-up time ranks sixth in the 400. Wagner has the third best time in the country as Knudson's 4:42.97 is fifth.
Also adding individual titles for the women were Rebecca Ridderhoff (100 hurdles – 14.51), Heidi Nassos (pole vault – 3.50m) and Audrey Western (steeplechase – 11:30.95). Ridderhoff ran to multiple top-10 national times including the second best 100 hurdles time and the eighth best 200 (25.56). Nassos' season opening height of 3.50m ranks seventh while Western is 10th.
Ridderhof, Hancock, Caitlin Cheeseboro and Ogede placed third in the 4x100 relay with a time of 48.78, the sixth best time this season. Anna Cossio placed fourth in the high jump which the top two heights were recorded by Division II competition. Cossio's height ranks third in Division III.