Hope leads Women's Track & Field at W&L/VMI Carnival with pole vault victory and fifth-place finish in the high jump

By: Megan Erbes

LEXINGTON, Va. — Sophomore Nicole Hope had a first place finish in the pole vault to lead the Ohio Northern women's outdoor track and field team at the Washington & Lee/Virginia Military Institute Track and Field Carnival Friday and Saturday.

The meet was not a team scoring event.

Hope won with a vault of 11-5.75.  She also placed fifth in the high jump with a height of 4-11.75.

Sophomore Kelly Casanova placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:35.02, while freshman Alison Steinbrunner placed third in the 5,000-meter run in 18:01.67.  Senior Brittany Farber placed fourth in the 400-meter dash in 59.12

Also placing fifth for Ohio Northern was the 4x100-meter relay team of freshman Jordan Buchanan, freshman Sarah Wilke, freshman Emily Blum and sophomore Tiffany Olberding in 51.61.

Senior Rebecca Silverstein and sophomore Brooke Bohanan also placed in the steeplechase. Silverstein placed sixth in 11:58.40 and Bohanan placed seventh in 11:58.58.

Rounding out the top-eight finishes for Ohio Northern was sophomore Mallory Bloom with an eighth place finish in the 10,000-meter run in 39:37.82.

Ohio Northern will run next Friday at the OAC Split Meet at Wilmington.