ATLANTA - Two lifetime-best performances from the Case Western Reserve University women's track and field team highlighted day one of the University Athletic Association Championship hosted by Emory University.
The Spartans are currently in second place with 53 points only behind The University of Chicago who has tallied 76 after the first day of competition.
In the first event of the day, senior Kristen Ruckstuhl (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) won the 10,000-meter run by over a minute and a half with a time of 36:53.07.
Freshman Danielle Kulpins (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after crossing the finish line with a time of 11:29.06.
In the pole vault, junior Christen Saccucci (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) finished third with a final mark of 3.20 meters.
Freshman thrower Cassandra Laios (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) grabbed a second place finish in the shot put with a toss of 11.91 meters. Also in the throws, senior Emeline Liu (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) and senior Tori Gershom (Lodi, Ohio/Cloverleaf) finished second and sixth in the hammer with throws of 46.12 meters and 38.60 meters, respectively.
Freshman sprinter Skylar Braga (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) ran a career-best time of 12.67 in the 100-meter dash to advance to the finals that will take place tomorrow. Braga also finished fourth in the long jump with a jump of 4.99 meters.
In the 400-meter hurdles, senior McKenzie Braun (Omaha, Neb./West Side) and freshman Marie-Louise Kolste (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) will both compete in the finals after running times of 1:09.89 and 1:11.35, respectively.
Senior Rachel Tan (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) qualified for the finals in the in 100-meter hurdles as well as the 100-meter dash crossing the finish line with a career-best time of 12.75. On day one, Tan also finished sixth overall in the long jump with a leap of 4.96 meters.
The Spartans will conclude the UAA Championships tomorrow, April 26 at the Woodruff P.E. Center.
