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University of Rochester Athletics

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER YELLOWJACKETS
Sennett Turner
Rochester Athletics
Turner's 10k time was nearly 40 seconds better than her previous career-best.

Turner Breaks 10k Record as Distance Runners Open Weekend Slate

4/13/2024 10:31:00 PM

By: Scott Sabocheck, Director of Athletic Communications
LEWISBURG, PA – A collection of University of Rochester track and field athletes opened up the weekend schedule by competing at the Bucknell University Bison Outdoor Classic on Saturday afternoon and evening at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium.
 
Overall, six distance runners were in action, competing in either the 5000 meters or 10000 meters at the meet. Among the six competitors, all hit the All-Atlantic Region outdoor qualifying marks in their respective events and five of the six hit new personal bests.
 
Closing out the days racing was senior Sennett Turner in the women's 10000 meter invitational race. Turner ranked 16th of 39 runners in 36:07.87, breaking the Rochester women's track and field record in the event.
 
Turner was the fifth Division III finisher and posted and shaved nearly 40 seconds off her previous career best. The senior's time also cracked the top-30 currently on the Division III performance list. Her time eclipsed the previous UR record of 36:11.60 set by Catherine Knox back in 2017.
 
UR's racing started in the afternoon with the open 5000 meters with Kat Benninger and Ellie Ponko running in the 68-athlete field. Benninger clocked in with a time of 18:16.49 and Ponko crossed the finish in 18:34.31. Benninger was 21st and Ponko 44th in the field, with both hitting PR's.
 
Up next, Alicia Lawson took to the track in the open 10000 meters and posted a new lifetime best of 39:30.35, ranking tenth of 20 runners in that event.
 
Representing the men's team was Nick Gaitanis in the unseeded 10000 meters as well, with Gaitanis finishing in 23rd of 49 runners, posting a 31:54.48 time, good for a spot at the AARTFC competition next month.
 
Later in the evening, James Catania ran in the invitational 5000 meter men's event and posted a solid run, ranking 43rd of 104 runners in a personal-best 14:46.89. His time qualified for regionals and the junior ended third in his heat during the competition.
 
Several other UR athletes are competing at Bucknell on Sunday, the final day of the meet, while the rest of the Rochester men's and women's track and field teams are taking part in the SUNY Brockport Multi & Invitational on Sunday and Monday.