CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's track & field team got off to a fast start at the Charlie Thomas Invitational Friday night in College Station, Texas, as the school record in the distance medley relay fell along four other all-time Top 10 marks being recorded. The team of Maddie Walker, Carmen Licht, Sydney Kilgore and Ellie Leather combined to run 11:36.35 and take down the previous record by nearly five seconds to lead the Bearcats on opening night.
// RECORD RUN
All four women are in their first seasons on the track for the Bearcats as the team includes true freshman Walker, redshirt freshman Licht, senior Kilgore, a two-year member of the UC soccer team, and junior transfer Leather. Together, the team not only took down the school record that was previously 11:41.09 (2018), but also lowered the season best in the event for the Bearcats by nearly 32 seconds. Walker led off with a split of 3:38 in the 1,200m run before handing off to Licht, who covered the 400m portion in 57.8. Kilgore, who had not competed in track since high school, turned in a time of 2:13.5 on the 800m leg before Leather went off for a 4:46.6 in the 1,600m to close out the race.
// ON THE RUN
Staying in the distances, Hannah Markel took to the track for the 5,000m run and finished eighth overall in 17:26.16. Her time is a 14.16 second personal best and stands as the #8 time in program history as well. This came one week after she raced in the 3,000m run at the Indiana Relays and turned in the #2 time in program history at 9:46.78.
// UP AND AWAY
Taylor Beard continued her upward climb in several events as she not only recorded a personal best in the pentathlon with 3,420 points, but also rose higher in the program's all-time high jump ledgers with a best of 1.76m (5-09.25). In the second event of the day, Beard cleared her best height as a collegian (lifetime best is 1.79m) to move up to #2 in UC's pentathlon high jump history as well as taking over the #5 spot all-time in the high jump. In the multi-events, only Jasmine Cotten (2012) has cleared a higher bar in the high jump as she holds the record at 1.82m (5-11.50).
// UP NEXT
The Charlie Thomas Invitational concludes Saturday at Texas A&M. The action begins at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) with three field events and the preliminary rounds of the 60m dash for both the men and women.
2020 CHARLIE THOMAS INVITATIONAL
Gilliam Indoor Stadium • College Station, Texas
February 7, 2020 • DAY 1
WOMEN'S RESULTS
5,000m RUN
8. Hannah Markel • 17:26.16 • PR & UC #8
DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY
3. Cincinnati • 11:36.35 • SB & UC RECORD
Walker (3:38), Licht (57.8), Kilgore (2:13.5), Leather (4:46.6)
PENTATHLON
4. Katie Straus • 3,628 points
7. Taylor Beard • 3,420 points • SB & PR
11. Angelica Lightfoot • 3,120 points
PENTATHLON #1 • 60m HURDLES
4. Katie Straus • 8.89 [933p]
7. Angelica Lightfoot • 9.21 [867p]
9. Taylor Beard • 9.32 [844p]
PENTATHLON #2 • HIGH JUMP
2. Taylor Beard • 1.76m (5-09.25)[928p] • SB, UC PENT #2 & UC #5
5. Katie Straus • 1.61m (5-03.25)[747p]
8. Angelica Lightfoot • 1.55m (5-01.00)[678p]
PENTATHLON #3 • SHOT PU
4. Angelica Lightfoot • 12.03m (39-05.75)[663p]
5. Katie Straus • 11.26m (36-11.50)[612p] • SB, PR & UC PENT #10
10. Taylor Beard • 9.78m (32-01.00)[515p]
PENTATHLON #4 • LONG JUMP
5. Angelica Lightfoot • 5.24m (17-02.25)[626p]
6. Katie Straus • 5.18m (17-00.00)[609p]
8. Taylor Beard • 5.16m (16-11.25)[603p]
PENTATHLON #5 • 800m RUN
4. Katie Straus • 2:27.29 [727p] • SB
12. Taylor Beard • 2:43.79 [530p]
15. Angelica Lightfoot • 3:09.00 [286p]
MEN'S RESULTS
No results
Women Break DMR Record to Open Charlie Thomas Invite
The University of Cincinnati women's track & field team got off to a fast start at the Charlie Thomas Invitational Friday night in College Station, Texas, as the school record in the distance medley relay fell along four other all-time Top 10 marks being recorded.
