Penn Laird, Va. – The University of Lynchburg indoor track & field teams competed in a pair of local meets on Friday to set final marks ahead of the ODAC Championships next weekend.

Grad student Betsy Mohnkern raced at the Virginia Tech Challenge in the women's 60m hurdles in Blacksburg, clocking 8.91 in prelims to fall just two-hundredths behind her season best. Mohnkern earned sixth place in finals with an 8.98 performance, remaining 22nd in the nation with an 8.89 mark from earlier in the season.

The remainder of the team competed at the Rockingham Collegiate Open against conference competition at the Edward S. Long Jr. Track Complex. The new facility features a 200m flat track, and Bridgewater College hosted the event.

Micah Leech, who completed two heptathlons earlier during the indoor season, earned podium finishes in three events. The sophomore placed first in the men's 60m hurdles with an 8.54 result, though he clocked an 8.49 personal best in prelims. In field events, Leech finished second in the men's long jump (21' 7" or 6.58m) and second in the men's triple jump (2nd 45' 2½" or 13.78m).

Tristan Wright earned first place in the men's 200m dash, soaring to a 22.04 finish that places him second on Lynchburg's top-ten list. Teammate Jaylen Jones finished third, clocking 22.33 to record a new personal best.

Aidan Riggle clinched the victory in the men's 3k with an 8:58.64 result. The distance squad tallied five top-ten finishes on the day, with three Hornets crashing the top seven of the men's 800m run. Jamison Mantooth finished second (1:57.56), Ryan Warner finished sixth (2:01.08) and Carter Herklotz finished seventh (2:01.49). On the women's side, Mya Baker finished eighth in the women's mile (5:46.39).

In field events, Ty Mauer finished third in the men's long jump with a 21' 5" (6.53m) performance, and Guillermo Martino placed seventh (19' 8½" or 6.01m). Demetri Hinton set a personal-best mark in the men's triple jump to earn first place with a 45' 6¼" (13.88m) mark.

Kacey Kelly, who currently competes for the Lynchburg women's basketball team, made her season debut with a pair of top-five finishes in jump events. The former All-American placed first in the women's triple jump with a 37' 3½" (11.37m) mark and fourth in the women's long jump with 16' 5½" (5.02m).

Allison Bobst earned second in the women's pole vault with a 11' 8" (3.56m) performance, her sixth top-ten finish of the season.

To cap the weekend, the Hornets found success in the women's weight throw, led by Kenzie Swicegood's 46' 11¼" (14.31m) mark for third place. Kennedy Johnson and Madeline Brainard tied for sixth place with a 39' 6¾" (12.06m) performance.

After seven consecutive weeks of competing throughout the indoor season, the Hornets now turn their vision to the ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championships next weekend at the Kerr-Cregger Field House at Roanoke College. The two-day event begins with select events and prelims on Saturday, March 1.

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--LYN--