Women’s track and field team sits in third after day one of MIAA Field Day

ALMA, Mich. – Backed by a first-place finish, three second-place finishes and a third-place finish in five different field events, the Olivet College women's track & field team sits in third-place with 44 points after day one of the 2014 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Field Day. Alma College is hosting the championships inside Bahlke Field in Alma.

The Comets had one individual event champion in day one of action, as senior Sara Wegener (Lansing/Lansing Catholic) took first-place in the discus throw. Her first throw of 113 feet, 5 inches was good enough to win the conference title. Wegener also placed second in the hammer throw with a 138 feet, 9 inch toss. Sophomore Alex Thulin (Colon) was fifth in the hammer with a 130 foot toss.

Junior Cassie Ciaravino (Lapeer/East) tied for the top mark, 5 feet, 1-3/4 inches, in the high jump. Since she needed all three attempts to clear the height, and Alma's Sara Luma cleared it on the first attempt, Ciaravino was given the second-place medal.  She also finished in second-place in the long jump with a 17 feet, 3-1/4 inch leap.

Sophomore Danielle Hoffman (Parma/Western) finished in third-place in the pole vault with a 9 foot, 6-1/4 inch clearance.

Ciaravino posted the fastest preliminary time in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.30 seconds. She was also fourth-quickest in the 100-meter dash at 13.05 seconds. Also advancing to the finals tomorrow are senior Jenna Mayle (Ionia) in the 400-meter hurdles (sixth, 1:10.37) and senior Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser) in the 400-meter dash (eighth, 1:03.94).

The second of competition starts tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. in seven field events, followed by running event finals at 1:30 p.m.