Women’s Track and Field Performs Well in Season Opener

Jan. 26 – (GRANVILLE, Ohio) – The Carnegie Mellon University women’s track and field team opened their 2008 indoor season at the Denison University Lid Lifter meet on Saturday, January 26. The Tartans put forth a strong effort and had some impressive performances in the unscored meet held at the Mitchell Center.

The Tartans collected four first place finishes out of the 15 events courtesy of sophomore Diane Mattingly (Leonardtown, Md.), freshman Laura McKee (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron), junior Samantha Simmons (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), and the Tartan 4x400 meter relay team. Mattingly won the 400 meters (61.98), McKee won the 800 meters (2:29.59), and Simmons won the long jump (4.88 meters). The 4x400 meter relay team consisting of freshman Courtney Baker (Fairfax, Va./Nashoba Regional), Mattingly, McKee, and senior Shauna Ormon (Rochester, N.Y./Wilson Magnet) crossed the line first in 4:21.43.

Simmons also placed second in the triple jump (10.02 meters) and Baker and Ormon placed third (63.15) and fourth (64.22) respectively in the 400 meters. Sophomore Anna Lenhart (Hagerstown, Md.) placed fourth in the 3000 meters (11:38.91) and freshman Sarah Zuerndorfer tied for fourth in the pole vault (2.45 m). Freshman Morgan Faer (Newton, Mass./Newton North) was tops on the team in both the 55 meter hurdles (9.66 seconds), where she placed fourth, and the 55 meter dash (8.33) where she also came in fourth.

The Carnegie Mellon women’s track and field team will be in action again next Saturday, February 2 when they travel to Morgantown, West Virginia and West Virginia University.