Lilly Versen

Women’s Track & Field Records 32 Top Eight Finishes at Joe LaRocco Invite

2/14/2026 6:24:00 PM

SALEM, Va. - The Washington and Lee University women's track and field team notched 32 top-eight finishes at the Joe LaRocco Invite on Saturday at Roanoke College.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MEET
  • Lilly Versen turned in a second-place finish in the 60m dash. Versen clocked a time of 7.99s in the prelims before lowering her time in both the semifinals and finals. She crossed the finish line in 7.91s in the finals heat to secure silver.
  • The Generals had four student-athletes compete in the 60m hurdles this morning, with all four advancing to the finals heat and placing in the top eight. Piper Shannon led the quartet with a third-place finish in a time of 9.23s. Elizabeth Sawicki clocked a personal-best time of 9.51s to finish fourth, with Lucy Buchmayr right behind her in fifth at 9.53s. Joanne Lee rounded out the group with a time of 9.67s to finish seventh.
  • Hannah Adams and Lily Pareso finished back-to-back in fourth and fifth place in the 5,000m with times of 20:14.69 and 20:21.37, respectively. Three Generals turned in top finishes in the mile, led by Amelia Weenig, who clocked a personal-best time of 5:19.37 to finish third. Julie Anne Bush finished fifth with a season-best time of 5:25.25, while Eve Spencer placed sixth with a personal-best time of 5:33.17.
  • Jesma Evans earned gold in the 400m this afternoon after crossing the finish line in 57.39s to secure first place. Simmons Lee finished eighth with a time of 1:03.38. Sofia Petrucelli and Charlotte Gardner both competed in the 800m, with Petrucelli pacing the duo in 2:26.61 to finish fourth. Gardner crossed the line in a season-best time of 2:28.60 to finish sixth.
  • Annabelle Sutliff was the top finisher for the Blue and White in the 200m, turning in a seventh-place finish with a time of 27.15s. The Generals also saw five student-athletes post top-eight finishes in the 3,000m, with Adelaide Ellis leading the group with a third-place finish in 10:40.66. Josie Engle finished right behind her in fourth at 10:46.82, while Weenig crossed the finish line in 10:56.02 for a fifth-place finish. Sarah Clark clocked a personal-best time of 10:59.25 to finish sixth, while Mackenzie Moore rounded out the group with an eighth-place finish and a personal-best time of 11:10.65.
  • Camille Gillum secured another first-place finish in the high jump after clearing 1.66m (5'-05.25"). Simone Kasischke finished fourth with a mark of 1.46m (4'-09.50"). Bailey Hedgemon earned first place in the weight throw with a mark of 16.89m (55'-05.00"), while Bella Timmerding finished sixth with a personal-best mark of 14.05m (46'-01.25"), the third-best mark in program history.
  • The Blue and White went 1-3 in the pole vault, with Mad McMurphy leading the way with a first-place finish. McMurphy cleared a personal-best height of 3.62m (11'-10.50"), improving her No. 2 all-time mark. Layla Keadle finished second with a season-best mark of 3.47m (11'-04.50"), while Abby Cholewa placed third with a personal-best mark of 3.32m (10'-10.75"), the seventh-best mark in program history. Gabby Pullen rounded out the group with a fifth-place finish after clearing a season-best height of 3.02m (9'-10.75").
  • Leah Smith moved up to No. 2 all-time in the shot put after finishing third with a personal-best mark of 11.82m (38'-09.50"). Emily Jackson finished right behind her in fourth with a season-best mark of 11.70m (38'-04.75"). Katie Wood and Hedgemon finished back-to-back in sixth and seventh with marks of 11.29m (37'-00.50") and 10.98m (36'-00.25"), respectively.
PERSONAL / SEASON BESTS TOP EIGHT FINISHERS
TOP TEN UPDATES
  • Mad McMurphy | Pole Vault (3.62m; 11'-10.50") - Improved No. 2 all-time mark
  • Leah Smith | Shot Put (11.82m; 38'-09.50") - No. 2 all-time
  • Bella Timmerding | Weight Throw (14.05m; 46'-01.25") - No. 3 all-time
  • Abby Cholewa | Pole Vault (3.32m; 10'-10.75") - No. 7 all-time
UP NEXT
  • The Generals are back in action on Friday, Feb. 20 as they head to Harrisonburg, Va. for the Rockingham Collegiate Open.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
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