The women’s indoor track and field team took part in a two-day event over the weekend when it competed at the Youngstown State University National Mid-Major Invitational.

Sophomore Aubrey Wingeart led the way for the Yellow Jackets who did well against stiff competition in schools ranging from Division I to Division III.

“She’s doing well, not necessarily thrown to the dogs so to speak in hard races, but we’re trying to progress her in a steppingstone fashion to for ready for the championships,” coach Bill Lubich said. “Whatever we put her in, she does well.”

Wingeart took fifth in the 5,000-meter race at 18:23.35, and also notched a 17th place finish in the 800-meter. Both were good enough to be the second-best time out of all Presidents’ Athletic Conference finishers.

Freshman Katherine Henderson is new onto the running scene for the Jackets, but also performed well over the weekend. Lubich said her times continue to improve.

“She set two personal bests in her long and triple jump,” Lubich said. “She’s very dedicated to the training program. The three main aspects to that are technique, conditioning and heart. The coaching staff takes care of the first two, and each athlete is responsible for their own dedication and she’s done well. She’s learning to triple jump, and it’s a three-phase technique process and she’s gone through it like duck on water.”

Henderson finished with a jump of 1.45-meters. Additionally, she took home a 4.75-meter long jump, and a 9.66-meter performance in the triple jump.

The two-day event set the Jackets up for a slightly different approach Friday versus Saturday according to Lubich.

“We had more athletes participate on Saturday,” Lubich said. “The crowd, parents were there, and they might not have been there on Friday. I’m not sure who that specifically affected, but I couldn’t pick one variable that made a difference.”

The meet being held in Youngstown provided the athletes a chance to feel out the facility prior to the Presidents’ Athletics Conference Championships, which are being held at the same venue  Feb. 27. 

The women have one meet left prior to the PAC Championships. The Jim Wuske Invitational is set for Feb. 8, and Lubich believes there will be a few keys to the two weeks of training.

“Keeping everybody healthy, not forcing any strains or leg injuries,” Lubich said. 

 This weekend’s event is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday at Mt. Union University in Alliance, Ohio.