Women run, jump over competition to win Collegiate Championship

The Kent State women’s track and field team had a weekend just like the men’s, as both finished first in the Central Collegiate Championships at the Kent State Fieldhouse.

The women took first place in seven of the 18 total events with 181.5 points. The Flashes were followed by Ohio with 103 points, Youngstown State with 102, Grand Valley State with 92.5, Detroit Mercy with 28 and Wright State with 24.

Junior Stephanie Hunt was honored with the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award after her No. 1 finish in the 200-meter dash and running anchor for the 4×400.

Junior Tiffany Brenneman led the Flashes in the 800-meter, earning her first victory of the season. Her time of 2:17.82 was a personal best. Brenneman’s classmate Stephanie Blackstone placed first in the mile with a time of 5:27.06.

Also placing first for the Flashes was senior Jackie Rodgers in the pole vault. Rodgers’ 12-4 put her as No. 21 with the NCAA provisional qualifiers. Junior Megan Bair placed first in the high jump with a season-best 5-6.

“I’m very pleased overall,” Kent State coach Bill Lawson said in a press release. “We’re right where we should be with three weeks left until we head to the MAC Championships. We’ll rest some people over the next two weeks and be ready to go in there.”

The Flashes will be in action on Friday and Saturday in the Sykes-Sabcock Challenge at Penn State.

– Kali Price