The Rhodes College women successfully defended their 2008 SCAC crown, earning the 2009 SCAC Women's Track and Field team title Saturday on the campus of The University of the South.
In a nine team field, the Lynx finished with 217 points, ahead of  DePauw University (195) and Trinity University (111).

Rhodes' Kristen Forbes was named the SCAC Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. The junior from Nashville, Tenn., finished first in the 200 meters (25.04) and the 400 meters (56.75) and took second in the 100 meters. She was also part of both the Lynx first-place 4 x 400 relay team as well as the second-place 4 x 100 relay team.  Forbes time in the 200 established a new SCAC championship meet record.

Depth in the sprints was a major factor, as every Lynx sprinter in the lane races advanced from Friday's prelims into the finals.  On Saturday, the Lynx took 4 of the top 5 places in the 100, finished 1^st, 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th in the 200, and 1^st and 4^th in the 400.  In the 100 high hurdles, senior Alanna Topps defended her conference title, winning in a solid time of 15.45, despite a strong head wind of 3.3 meters/second.  The Lynx also took 2^nd (Jessie Ormand, 15.58), 4^th (Molly Buck, 15.92) and 7^th (Elizabeth Bernard, 16.65).  In the 400 meter hurdles, Sophomore Molly Buck defended her title, as well, winning in 1:04.63, followed by 5^th (Rachel Bernard) and 8^th (Elizabeth Bernard) place finishes.

In the jumps, Junior Kim Tryon won the pole vault and set a new women's SCAC record by clearing 11 feet, 4 and one-half inches.  Sandy Henin and Melissa DeFabrizio added 3^rd and 7^th place finishes.  Junior Julia Goss won the long jump with a NCAA provision mark of 17' 11.5”.  Molly Buck and Jessie Ormand finished in 6^th and 7^th place.  In the triple jump, Jessie Ormand and Kim Tryon contributed 4^th and 7^th place points with jumps of 35'6” and 34'4”.

In the distance races, freshman Taylor Stephens finished 3^rd in both the 5000 (18:42) and 10,000 (39:15), despite a knee injury that slowed her significantly.  Earlier in the season, Stephens posted a provisional qualifying mark in the 10000 of 37:11.  Sophomore transfer Anna Johnson also added depth in the 5K (19:29) and 10K (40:58), posting 5^th and 6^th place finishes.

The middle distances also provided significant points, as Sandy Henin (2^nd in 2:16.41), Caroline Webster (4^th in 2:21.72) and Emily Broocks (8^th in 2:24.70) all had strong 800 meter races.  Kelsey Dudziak added depth in the 1500 (7^th in 5:03.30) and 3000 Steeplechase (4^th in 12:20).

 

RESULTS