First-Place Finishes was the Theme at Tiffin

TIFFIN, Oh. - The Penn State Behrend women's track and field team battled at the Tiffin Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Lions qualified for the ECAC championships in six different events on the day.

Savanna Carr (Franklin, PA/Franklin Area) and Caitlin Plazony (Fairview, PA/Fairview) set the tone in the 1000m with first and second place finishes. Carr crossed the line at 3:15.89 while Plazony finished just behind her at 3:16.78, both earning qualifying times for the ECACs. Kelley Giles (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) was not far behind, finishing in fourth place with a time of 3:25.01.

In the 400m, Rachel Pell (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward) led the charge with a first place finish as well, crossing the line at 59.70, good enough for a qualifying mark for ECACs. Pell also took tenth in the 200m with a time of 27.57.

Riley Crissman (Bradford, PA/Bradford Area) punched her ticket for the ECACs in the 3000m, taking first place in 10:55.55.

Behrend's 'A' team in the 4x400m made up of Gabriella Loeffler (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin), Haley Yenchik (Cecil, PA/Cannon McMillan), Ashlyn Carlsson (Butler, PA/Knoch) and Pell ran a qualifying time of 4:12.41, finishing in second place. Behrend's 'B' team, Courtney Sargent (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy), Tiayerra Stroncek (Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills), Sierra Long (Northeast, PA/Northeast), and Giles, finished in sixth place at 4:31.89.

In the pole vault, Yenchik qualified for the ECAC championships for the fourth time this season. She jumped at a height of 3.40m, earning fourth place.

In the one mile run, Jenna Shelton (Cabot, PA/Knoch) and Sargent each placed in the Top 10. Shelton crossed the line in second place with a time of 5:26.48, while Sargent took sixth at a time of 5:41.58. They both ran in the 800m as well, Shelton took third and Sargent took tenth with times of 2:28.32 and 2:37.18, respectively.

The Lions will travel to Ohio for the Ohio State Elite next weekend. The meet will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.