NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Cornell women's track and field team delivered a dominant performance over the weekend at the Dr. Sander Scorcher, competing Friday and Saturday inside the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City.
Cornell posted multiple top finishes in invitational sections, set a freshman program record, and recorded three all-time top-10 marks in school history as the Big Red continued to build momentum early in the indoor season.
Senior Avery Hilliard highlighted the meet with a victory in the invitational pole vault, clearing 4.25 meters to claim first place. The mark keeps Hilliard ranked 10th nationally in the NCAA this season. Mairead Clas added a runner-up finish in the invitational 3,000 meters, crossing in 9:31.34, while Avery Hastings placed third in the invitational weight throw with a mark of 18.38 meters.
Cornell's relay depth was on full display, led by the invitational 4x400-meter relay of Elise Sawyer, Natasha Redmond, Justine Hounsell and Francine Stevens, which placed with a time of 3:43.71. In the open sections, the Big Red quartet of Eden Oje, Gabrielle Shepston, Elika Vahhaji and Sophia Comfere set a new Cornell freshman record in the 4x400 meters, clocking 3:47.72 to finish second in their heat.
Three Big Red athletes etched their names into Cornell's all-time top-10 list during the meet. Francine Stevens ran 55.12 in the 400 meters to rank fifth in program history, Paula-Marie Brown posted the 10th-fastest time ever in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.66, and Hastings' weight throw mark of 18.38 meters also ranks fifth all-time at Cornell.
Cornell added another top-five performance with a fourth-place finish in the long jump (5.62m) and placed third in the invitational 60-meter hurdles. Stevens also placed fourth in the 400 meters, while Natasha Redmond finished sixth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.87.
In the distance events, Clas added a fifth-place finish in the mile (4:45.61), while Bronwyn Parks (9:34.02) and Maisie McManus (9:35.06) placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters.
Additional notable finishes included Syna Sony tying for fourth in the high jump (1.68m), Claire Springer placing fourth in the shot put (14.23m), and Divine Bamgboye finishing sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.70).
The Big Red returns home Saturday, Jan. 31, to host the Cornell Invite at Barton Hall, highlighted by Senior Day recognition.
