AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College women's track and field team opened its 2020-21 outdoor season by taking part in the University at Buffalo Mid-Week Invitational this afternoon. Daemen was the only non Division I program to take part in the event, which took place at UB Stadium. The Wildcats scored 69 points and placed third out of the six competing teams. 

It marked Daemen's first outdoor activity since Apr. 27, 2019 when the Wildcats took part in the Buffalo Invitational hosted by UB. The entire 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HIGHLIGHTS

• • Redshirt junior Kassandra Nolet (Fort Erie, Ont.) placed 5th out of 28 runners in the 3,000 meters with a personal best time of 10:36.69. It marked the first time in her career that she ran the 3,000 meters during an outdoor event. She set her previous personal best time in the 3,000 meters (10:50.42) during the 2020 indoor season at the RIT Tiger Invitational.
  • Sophomore Courtney Merrill (Speedway, Ind.) and junior Sarah Golas (Alden, N.Y.) also took part in the 3,000 meters. Merrill placed 14th with a time of 11:28.03, while Golas placed 17th (11:31.76).
  • Freshman McKenzie Hall (Hornell, N.Y.) made her collegiate debut in the 800 meters and placed fourth out of 14 runners with a time of 2:37.42. Fellow freshman Emma Grzebinski (West Seneca, N.Y.) also made her collegiate debut in the 800 meters and placed 12th (2:50.31).
  • Junior Amanda Bushway (East Aurora, N.Y.) turned in a personal-best effort in the 400 meters, as she placed seventh out of 11 runners with a time of 1:04.34. She eclipsed her previous best time of 1:04.72 that she posted during the 2019 indoor season.
  • Daemen had three runners make their collegiate debut during the 1,500 meter run. Freshman Camryn Bailey (Geneva, N.Y.) placed ninth out of 20 entrants with a time of 5:13.75. Fellow freshmen Haley Hinds (Blossvale, N.Y.) placed 12th (5:21.26), while redshirt sophomore Hannah Thomas (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) placed 15th (5:28.77).
  • Freshman Alyssa Harrington (Tonawanda, N.Y.), who made her collegiate debut earlier this month at the Houghton Invitational, took part in one track event and two field events today. She ran the 100 meters for the first time in her career and placed 12th out of 15 runners with a time of 14:07. She also placed seventh in the long jump (4.60 meters) and third in the triple jump (10.27 meters).
  • Senior Danielle Juby (Ilion, N.Y.) posted a ninth place showing in the 200 meters (29.63), while freshman Neissa Raymond (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made her collegiate debut in the 200 and placed 11th (30.88).
  • Graduate student Taylor Haude (Rochester, N.Y.) posted a third-place showing in the pole vault (2.95 meters), while redshirt sophomore Natalie Menz (Lyndonville, N.Y.)  completed in the javelin for the first time in her career and posted a throw of 19.81 meters.
  • Senior Betty Jones (Camillus, N.Y.) and sophomore Skye Dorcely (Buffalo, N.Y.) both took part in the shot put, discus and hammer throw.

UP NEXT
Daemen's next scheduled event is the UB Invitational, set to take place at UB Stadium on April 17.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Support Daemen College's return to intercollegiate athletic competitions by making a contribution to the Game On Campaign and the Daemen Wildcats Gotta Play Fund. This comprehensive fundraising campaign was established to help offset the loss of valuable external revenue streams that directly support Daemen's 17 varsity teams. To learn more, visit daemenwildcats.com/gameon.