Rachel Bennek '07 set a school record in the 400-meter dash as Hamilton College competed in the non-team scoring Syracuse University Invitational at Manley Field House on Feb. 2.
Bennek's time in the 400 meters was 60.30 seconds as she finished second and qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships in the event. Mara Dropkin-Frank '05 held the old record of 60.59 seconds, which was set in February of 2003. Bennek also holds the school record in the 500-meter run.
Sarah Downey '07 took fourth place in the 500 meters with a time of 1:22.52, but she was the fastest Division III runner in the field. Downey's time was good enough to qualify for the ECAC Championships. Kristen Selden '09 qualified for the finals of the 55-meter hurdles as she was sixth in 9.40 seconds.
Akilah Bond '09 led a strong group of Hamilton field athletes. Bond was second in the triple jump with a leap of 10.88 meters (35-feet-8½). Lauren Steates '07 placed fourth in the triple (10.35 meters) and fifth in the long jump (4.81 meters). Steates was the top Division III athlete in the long jump.
Jess DeMichiel '08 captured third place in the pole vault as she cleared 2.85 meters (9-feet-4¼) and Amanda Salisburg '08 was right behind DeMichiel in fourth place. Jen Orbaker '07 finished fifth in the high jump. Kary Pardy '08 wound up fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 12.36 meters (40-feet-6¾), which was tops among Division III competitors.
The Continentals host the Liberty League Championships at Scott Field House on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m.
