Pringle Leads Women's Track at High Point Meet

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Columbia College women's track and field team competed at the mostly NCAA Div. I VertKlasse Meeting at High Point University over the weekend.

In the non-scored meet, the women were led by sophomore indoor All-American Mackenzie Pringle as she finished 11th overall in the Triple Jump on Saturday. Her mark of 11.73 meters (38.5 ft) was the third-best mark among non-D1 schools also as she finished just behind two D-2 competitors in the 40-women event.

In the 4x100m Relay, the sprinting team of M. Pringle, Latrice Brown, Mykayla Howard, and Ashante Shaw, finished first in their heat with a season-best time of 47.45 seconds to come in 4th among D-2 and D-3 teams and 12th place overall out of 24 schools. This time has qualified the women's relay team for Nationals as well.

In the field events on Friday, sophomore Doreshia McAllister placed an impressive 2nd overall in the Hammer Throw with a mark of 47.3 meters (155 ft). Senior Anaya Canty then finished 8th out of 28 in the Hammer with a throw of 44.6m while senior Darci Dawson was 9th at 43.5 meters. On Saturday morning in the Discus, CC was led by Dawson who placed 30th out of 40 but 4th among D-2 with a throw of 36.2 meters.

The Lady Koalas began the meet with the 1500m race on Friday morning with sophomore Juliana Gonzalez leading the way with a 45th place finish out of 83 runners (9th in D2) with a time of 5:07. Her teammates, freshman Avarose Buccino and junior Jennyfer Vigueras also competed and placed 61st and 69th respectively. Buccino had a time of 5:31 while Vigueras came across in 5:45. Then, in the Mixed 5000m race walk, Amelia Nifong placed 5th in a time of 46:44. The trio of distance runners then also competed in the 5K race on Saturday evening with Gonzalez placing 25th (10th in D2) in 20:27 while Buccino came in 31st in 22:14. Vigueras came across right behind in 32nd in 22:33.

In the 100 meters on Friday morning, sophomore Kwamecia Marks finished 50th overall out of 95 in a time of 12.77 seconds while freshman Jordyn Gilliam was 79th in 13.6 seconds. In the 400 meters, freshman Tylashia Alston led the way coming in a tie for 30th place running a time of 1 minute flat. Fellow freshman sprinter Ziykila Henderson then placed 38th out of 53 in 16.2 seconds in the 100m Hurdles for her season-best time. Henderson also finished 31st overall in the 400m Hurdles on Friday in a time of 1:12.6 seconds.

In the 200 meters, K. Marks and freshman teammate Faith Eugene led the Koalas placing 76th and 77th in 26.5 seconds out of 120 competitiors. Both times were season/personal bests. Gilliam also ran the 200m and placed 97th in 28 seconds.

The track and field teams will next be competing on Saturday at the UNC-Asheville Invite.