West Chester, Pa. (Mar. 24, 2012) - In her first outdoor meet of the season, Melissa Fellenbaum (Mount Joy, Pa./Hempfield) picked up where she left off at the end of the indoor season.  The junior won the pole vault in a new school record and reached the ECAC qualifying mark of 3.30m.  Her jump and ECAC mark makes her the first women to reach and ECAC mark during the outdoor season.

Freshman Rachel Heisler (Boyertown, Pa./ Boyertown) picked up another win for the Crusaders with throw of 29.66m in the discus.  Teammate Amanda Searle (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) helped the Crusaders earn a 1-2 sweep in the event with her second place throw of 29.54m.  The two teamed back up to place fifth and sixth in the Hammer throw, both throwing lifetime bests of 33.95m and 33.39m, respectively.  Their throws, along with teammate Jamzyn Vega's (Reading, Pa./ Holy Name) throw of 28.13m were good enough to eclipse the MAC qualifying mark.  Searle placed in the top ten in a third event, earning an outdoor season best of 9.75m placing sixth in the shot put.

Sophomore Jeanne Knowles passed the MAC qualifying standard in the 800m run, placing fourth in the event.  Sophomore Bridget Verdel (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame) also earned a fourth place finish, here's in the Pole Vault with her clearance of 2.40m, and Freshman Karlee Kominsky (York, Pa./ Northeastern) placed second in the high jump, clearing 1.45m.

"It was a great effort by the entire women's team.  The conditions were less than ideal, which makes vaulting and throws very difficult, but the ladies really competed well.  Overall, I think the staff and athletes didn't use the weather as an excuse and had a very good day," noted Coach Kilgore.

The Crusaders are back in action next weekend at the Danny Curran Invitational hosted by Widener University.  The triple jump, discus, 5k, 10k and mens pole vault will take place on Friday March 30th, with the remainder of the event Saturday March 31st.  Start times are 3pm Friday and 9am Saturday.