Women’s Outdoor Track and Field posts 9 top-10 finishes at Ashland Alumni Open

By Wes Mayberry 

ASHLAND — The Ohio Northern women's outdoor track and field team posted nine top-10 finishes at the two-day Ashland Alumni Open on Friday and Saturday at Ferguson Field.

Fifth-place finishes from the 4x400 relay team and freshman Olyvia Ashbrook (Johnstown/Northridge) led the way for the Polar Bears (9-2 overall) at the meet, which was not team scored.

The 4x400 relay team of junior Gabrielle Kowalczyk (Marion/Pleasant), sophomore J.J. Herron (Miamisburg) and freshmen Olivia Altiere (Canfield/Western Reserve) and Katelyn Messner (Granville) crossed the finish line in 4:20.34.

Ashbrook posted a time of 1:05.94 in the 400 hurdles, which was just off her personal-best time of 1:05.49, which ranks eighth all-time at ONU.

Herron and sophomore Rosie Schroeder (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) placed ninth and 10th, respectively, the 400 hurdles with times of 1:08.35 and 1:09.31.

Freshman Larkin Warner (Findlay) was sixth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 20:49.02.

Senior Mackenzie Detmer (Liberty Center) was seventh in the triple jump with a mark of 9.82 meters, and freshman Rylie Barrington (Waynesfield/Waynesfield-Goshen) was ninth in the event with a distance of 9.68 meters.

Junior Anna Schatzle (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County) tied for seventh in the pole vault, clearing a height of 3.58 meters.

The 4x100 relay team of Schatzle, sophomore Allie Starner (Wellington) and freshmen Chloe Gibson (Ostrander/Buckeye Valley) and Kendra Krichbaum (Ashland) rounded out ONU's top-10 finishers, placing seventh in a time of :50.20.

The Polar Bears will return to action on Thursday and Friday for the OAC Championships in Berea.