Tulane University leads the women’s competition after the first day of the American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship at the Birmingham Crossplex. The team collected 38 points, holding a slight lead over Charlotte and UTSA, who finished with 36 and 35 points respectively.
The team’s performance was highlighted by Blezzin Kimutai, who won the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:59.69. This result broke both her own program record and set a new meet record, earning Tulane 10 points. Petra Dos Santos placed fourth in the same event with a time of 16:27.65, contributing five points to the team’s total.
Sofie Groeninger took third place in the pentathlon with 3,803 points. She recorded the best shot put mark at 14.05 meters, which is fifth best in Tulane history. Her other results included fourth in high jump (1.59m), fifth in the 800 meters (2:28.48), sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.00), and seventh in long jump (5.36m).
Presley Wolfe earned silver in pole vault with a mark of 4.12 meters, ranking fifth all-time for Tulane and as the 61st-best mark nationally this season.
In relay events, Tulane’s team of Elena Liano-Rengel, Nahema Dumonteil Cabanas, Maria Alduan, and Dana Rojas Vazquez secured second place in the distance medley relay with a time of 11:32.54—sixth best in school history and ranked 53rd nationally this season.
Cara Salsberry contributed additional points by finishing eighth in weight throw with a distance of 16.99 meters.
Four athletes from Tulane advanced to finals after preliminary events: Liano-Regel and Reese Ragland qualified for the mile final; Jasper Newton advanced to the final of the 800 meters after setting a personal best; Zaria Parker qualified for finals in the 200 meters and set another personal best in the 60 meters despite not advancing further.
Tulane will enter tomorrow’s final day aiming to defend last season’s championship title.
“Blezzin Kimutai stole the show in the 5,000 meters to highlight a successful day all around for the Wave, as she won the race with a record time of 15:59.69,” according to Tulane Athletics.
