Jan. 7, 2011
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Cincinnati women's track and field team resumed indoor competition after a four-week holiday break and came out victorious at the 2011 Akron Opener on Friday, Jan. 7, at Stile Field House on the campus of the University of Akron.
The Bearcats finished in first place after compiling 112 team points, followed by Akron's 109 points and Temple's 67, on the strength of first-place finishes in seven events.
"We're very happy to have beaten Akron and Temple," said UC women's track and field head coach Susan Seaton. "It was a good opportunity to work on things from our last competition."
Senior sprinter Natasha Burse (Garland, Texas/Richardson) came out victorious in the 200-meter dash, recording a time of 24.70.
Junior Aricka Rhodes (Westerville, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and senior Vanessa Hardin (Westerville, Ohio) finished 1-2 in the 400-meter dash with times of 56.00 and 57.15 respectively.
Junior mid-distance runner Kathy Klump (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) won the 800-meter race with a time of 2:13.81. Senior Michele McKenney (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) paced the 8,000-meter race with a time of 10:15.23.
Junior hurdler Paris Campbell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.79.
The team of sophomore sprinter Alyssa Edley (London, Ohio/London), Hardin, sophomore Shanay Portis (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) and Rhodes was victorious in the 4x400 Meter Relay, finishing in 3:51.02.
Junior Mackenzie Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) won the pole vault competition, clearing a height of 4.00 meters.
The Bearcats' next competition is Jan. 21-22, when the men compete in the All Ohio Track & Field Championships in Kent, Ohio.
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