The Wheaton College women's track & field team hosted the Wheaton Invitational at the Beard Field House and flourished in its only home meet of the season earning several top-3 finishes on Saturday afternoon. The Lyons hosted Assumption College, Bridgewater State University, Lasell, Ramapo College, Salve Regina, UMass Boston and Worcester State University in the non-scoring meet.
Junior All-American Ashante Little (Seabrook, N.H./Winnacunnet)won two individual events on the afternoon and also helped the 4x200-meter relay team to a second place finish overall. Little cruised to a first place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.82-seconds and the 300-meter dash in 40.76-seconds. Little's time of 8.82-seconds in the 60-meter hurdles is the second-fastest time in program history in the event.
Senior All-American Amanda Claflin (Pembroke, Mass./Pembroke) claimed first place laurels in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.79-seconds. Claflin posted an identical time of 7.79-seconds in the preliminary round of the 60-meter dash recording the second-fastest time in program history in the event twice during the invitational. In the 300-meter dash, Claflin finished second in 41.54-seconds and also ranked second overall in the long jump with a leap of 16-feet and 10-inches.
In the 4x200-meter relay, freshman Francesca Flynn (Farmington, Conn./Northwest Catholic), Little, senior Samantha Bennett (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and junior All-American Meredith Scannell (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) placed second overall in a total time of 1:48.60.
Bennett took home first place honors in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.96 while Scannell was third overall in 2:22.07. Flynn ranked third overall in the 60-meter dash in 8.12-seconds. Flynn qualified for the finals with a time of 8.10-seconds in the preliminary heat of the event.
Junior Mollie Lane (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) recorded a personal best height in the high jump with a first place finish of 5-feet and 6-inches.
Senior Sylvia Okoye (Stanhope, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional) placed first overall in the weight throw with a toss of 47-feet and 10.50-inches. Okoye also ranked second in the shot put with a throw of35-feet and 6.50-inches.
In the 3,000-meter run, freshman Jordan Silva (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown) beat the field by more than 30-seconds with a time of 10:33.97. Sophomore Sonrisa O'Toole (Stockbridge, Mass./Monument Mountain) placed fourth in 11:13.89 while freshman Dagmara Sobczyk (Farmington, Conn./Farmington) was fifth overall in 11:18.24.
Junior Amber Spencer (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) ranked second overall in the triple jump with a leap of 34-feet and 3.50-inches and sophomore Nichole Haar (East Providence, R.I./East Providence) checked in at third overall in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.58-seconds.
Wheaton travels to the Boston University Terrier Classic Friday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 26.
