GENESEO, NY – Led by Ashley Heffernan's top-10 mark, the University of Rochester women's track and field team kicked off its 2024 outdoor campaign at the Geneseo Early Season Invitational at the SUNY Geneseo Track & Field Complex on Saturday as part of a split-squad opening-weekend for the 'Jackets.
 
Heffernan took home first place in the long jump, earning UR's lone event win of the day with a leap of 5.46m, an All-Atlantic Regional qualifier, and the 8th-best distance in NCAA Division III this season.
 
Heffernan also joined a trio of UR finishers in the javelin, finishing 22nd with a 24.13m throw. Cassidy Romano was the 'Jackets' top javelin-thrower, finishing 14th with a 26.51m throw, while Victoria Bermeo's 23.24m throw was good for 25th.
 
Also in the field events, Madison Vargas was UR's top finisher in both the discus and shot put, placing eighth (34.98m) in the discus and 14th (10.59m) in the shot put. In the high jump, Lily Hubert reached the 1.35m bar to finish 12th, while Trinity Johnson's 8.76m leap in the triple jump was good for 23rd overall.
 
In the track events, Kat Benninger scored the Yellowjackets' top finish, crossing the fifth line in 12:22.22 seconds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, good for 5th.
 
Zoe Noble got Rochester's day started with the 100-meter hurdle prelims, finishing 26th with time of 18.48 seconds. Then following Benninger's run in the steeplechase, Bonnie Dong was UR's top finisher in the 1,500 meters, clocking in at 5:46.12 (61st).
 
Toni Adewakun finished 20th in the 100 meters, crossing the finish line in 13.44 seconds, while Emily Salman posted a 35th-place result in the 200 meters, running the 200 in 30.01 seconds.
 
Meredith Crockett wrapped up Rochester's day on the track with the 5,000 meters, setting a new PR of 19:12.22 to finish 32nd.
 
The Yellowjackets are back in action when they host the University of Rochester Alumni Invitational on Saturday, April 6 inside Edwin Fauver Stadium beginning at 10:00 a.m.