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Women's Championship Entry List |  2013-14 Women's PSAC Performance List

Tickets (Daily Admission):
Adults $7
Students $2
Students with PSAC I.D. FREE
 
BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University women's track and field team hopes to cap its indoor season with a strong performance in the 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championships at Bucknell University this Saturday and Sunday.

Originally scheduled to be hosted at Edinboro University, the conference meet was relocated to Bucknell because of heating issues with the Mike S. Zafirovski Sports and Recreation Dome where the Indoor Championships have been held in recent years.

The Huskies finished seventh a year ago at the conference indoor meet, tying the school-best finish set the previous season while improving their point total. With a strong season to this point, having seven school records set already, Bloomsburg has high hopes to continue moving up the conference ladder.

"We anticipate we're going to up the point production again this year," head coach Bernie Empie said. "If all the pieces come together at the right time we feel like we could be in the top three. The conference is pretty tight this year across the women's side. There will be a number of teams stacked up within 15-20 points. Every point you can get is important."

Heading the pack is junior Lauren Lehman (Mt. Holly Springs/Boiling Springs), who has the top time in the PSAC in the mile this season with an NCAA provisional mark of 5:02.91 set earlier this month. Also ranked third in the 3000 meters at 10:10.97, Lehman is set up to be a major point-scorer for the Huskies.

Senior Kelsey Davis (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia), the school record-holder in the pole vault, will eye a potential conference championship in that event this weekend. The leader in the PSAC this season at 3.70m / 12'1.5", Davis also ranks in a tie for 24th in the nation this season.

"She's had some great meets the past two PSAC championships and came up a jump short in both of them, finishing second," Empie said. "She's looking to take home that crown this year and better her NCAA mark and punch her ticket to Winston-Salem and the national championships."

The Huskies are excited not only for this weekend, but the future as well with a high number of underclassmen posting strong performances this year. Included in that group is freshman Kaylee Caruso (Montoursville/Montoursville) owns the school record in both the long jump (5.41m / 17'9") and triple jump (11.04m / 36' 2 ¾"). "She has, for most of the season, been in the number two or three spots in those events (in the PSAC). A couple of kids slid by her this past weekend, but fortunately for her and for us it's not what happened last weekend, it's what happens this weekend."

Alexis Rankin (Hatboro/Hatboro-Horsham) set the best time in the 800 meters in the PSAC this season with a mark of 2:18.66 earlier this month and will look to lead the field on Sunday.

Sophomore Meghan Hallick (Pottsville/Pottsville Area) and junior Tayler Harkins (Lansdale/North Penn) are both positioned to score points in the shot put and will look to make moves in the weight throws as well.

Junior Haley Kramer (Eagleville/Methacton) broke her own school record in the pentathlon with 2,865 points in January and has continued to make improvements in practice, looking for a big five event contest this weekend.

In the high jump, Joselyn Estrada Pascual (Milton/Milton) has the school record at 1.60m / 5'3".

The Huskies distance medley relay, 4x4 and 4x8 relays could be pivotal events to score points. Rankin and senior Jessica Segeleon (Bridgeville/South Fayette) are important pieces to the puzzle. Segeleon finished seventh in the 800 meters at the indoor meet last year and will look to improve upon that this season.

Senior Courtney Werner (Hudson, OH/Hudson) is qualified in the 3000 meters and could also play a role in the relays. Freshmen Zoe Bongiovanni (Phoenixville/Methacton) and Kayla Swartz (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove Area) have been mainstays in the 4x4 this year and will again play important roles.

Junior Kate Dodds (Ambler/Upper Dublin) will also seek a spot in the top eight in the 5000 meters. Senior Amanda Darling (Mt. Bethel/Bangor ) and junior Angelina Shadwick (Norwood/Interboro) are qualified in the hurdles and will look to improve their marks and secure spots in the finals on Sunday.

"We're excited for the championships. We have grown tremendously in the past years to position ourselves as a team that is moving up the ranks," Empie added. "This year is another building block."

Events begin at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday and extend through the evening. Competition re-opens on Sunday with the awards ceremony tentatively scheduled for 5:15 p.m.