BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Viking Track & Field Teams had a successful day one start to the Southern Invitational hosted by Birmingham Southern College Friday.
Only 5 events for each gender were contested on day one with Vikings seeing action in all but two of them. On the Women's Side, freshman Rachel Bibbey followed up her win in the Discus from last week by winning the event again Friday with a lifetime PR throw of 38.02m, nearly 9 feet farther than her throw from last week. Freshman teammate Genesis Leggett also threw a lifetime PR to finish in the top eight as well as finishing in the top eight of the women's Shot Put.
In the Women's 1500m, senior Danielle Patterson took 7th and teammate Alainna Chretien took 8th overall running 4:55.07 and 4:55.92 respectively. Abby Carroll, Bethany Terpin, and MaryBeth Rowland all had strong showings in the event as well.
The men were lead by Gino Fabrizio's win in the men's Discus and sophomore Will Knowlton's win in the 1500m. Freshman Preston Palmer finished with a PR and a top eight finish also. Fabrizio and teammate Jed Woodward also added team points taking 7th and 8th overall in the Shot Put. Freshman Isaiah McElvain finished 6th in the 3000m Steeplechase.
Day 2 action for the Vikings is currently underway. Live results can be viewed here.
“We had a great start to this meet," Head Coach Luke Syverson said. "We came out strong, especially in the Discus and the 1500m events. It was great to see the PR's and the efforts in both of those. All of our Discus throwers had at least a collegiate PR with Bibbey having a monster PR to win the event. Will looked more like how he ended the season last year with a great kick to finish 1st among all of the collegiate runners in the 1500m field so that was a fun race as well. If this is any indication of how we will compete on Day 2, then it should continue to be a great meet for us.”
