WAUKESHA, Wis. — Posting six total marks in the program's all-time top-10 lists, the Carthage women's track and field team got off to a great start to the outdoor season on Sunday, competing at the Pioneer Open at the Dennis Punches Track and Field Complex. The Firebirds totaled 173 team points to take second place overall, just behind the host Carroll at 198.

Carthage will look to build on their hot start to the outdoor season at the WLU Warrior Invitational next, scheduled for Thursday, April 14 in Milwaukee, Wis.
 

Head Coach Stephanie Domin

"After two canceled meets and a late start the team was ready to compete today! We had multiple strong performances in many events. The throwing squad had multiple personal bests and led the team in total points. Lexi Mattox led the team with a seven meter PR in the hammer with a mark of 53.31 meters which puts her on the Carthage all-time list as number four and NCAA list number six, she was second in the event. Lex also finished third in the shot put with a mark of 12.99 which ranks her number 20 on the NCAA list. Freshman Olivia Carel finished second in the shot put with a mark of 13.04 and ranks her number 19 on the NCAA list."
 
"Grace Robinson led the sprint squad with a four second PR in the 400 Hurdles, which puts her fifth on the Carthage all time list and 20 on the NCAA list. Distance was led by freshman Kylie Smith by winning the 5000 meter run in a personal best time of 19:01. Lastly our jumps squad is off to a great start. Abby Calhoun had a lifetime best in the long jump placing second as well as placing second in the Pole Vault."
 

Highlights

• The 4x100-meter relay team began the day with a first-place finish, as the team of Madie Haupert, Teresa Topolski, Feliscyanna Frazier, and Sarah Kerfin crossed the finish line in 51.97 seconds.
• Haupert went on to crush her PR in the 100-meter dash by nearly an entire second in the qualifier, posting a time of 13.39.
• Joining her in the finals for the 100 was Grace Robinson, who claimed fourth place with a time of 13.18 seconds.
• Robinson came back to the track and competed in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:05.34, the fourth-fastest time in the event in school history.
• Kerfin took third overall, and second among collegiate performers, in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.10 seconds.
• Freshman Kylie Smith made a statement in her first 5,000 at Carthage, nearly breaking the 19-minute mark with a time of 19:01.03 to take first place.
• The throwers shined in the shot put today, as both Liv Carel and Alexis Mattox posted top-10 marks in program history. Carel hit 13.04 meters on her second throw of the day, the eighth-best in Carthage history, while Mattox threw 12.99 meters on attempt number four, the ninth-best at Carthage all time.
• Mattox returned and dazzled in the hammer throw, crushing her PR by over seven meters at 53.31 meters, the fifth-best mark in Carthage history.
• Sophomore Nicole Tarpley set a new PR with Carthage's 10th-best throw all-time in the discus today, hitting 41.74 meters on her fifth toss.
• In the long jump, freshman Abbey Calhoun set a personal best with a leap of 5.15 meters on her first attempt to place second overall, and first among collegiate athletes.
• Calhoun also competed in the pole vault for the first time at Carthage, clearing 3.08 meters, ranking her 10th on the all-time school leaderboard.

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