FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Linnearia Richards broke a 27-year-old school record and was named MVP of the meet while winning the long jump as the Siena Heights women's indoor track and field team racked up three individual titles, five NAIA auto performances and three provisionals during the WHAC Championships at Indiana Tech.
Richards flew an auto distance of 19 feet, 1 1/2 inches (5.83 meters) to secure the WHAC long jump crown. The previous record was set by Gretchen Henrickson in 1998 (18 feet, 9 inches); Richards bested it by 4 1/2 inches.
Richards had provisional performances with a runner-up finish in the 60 hurdles (8.65 seconds) and a third-place sprint in the 400 (58.02).
Richards totaled 26 points in team scoring: 10 in long jump, eight in the 60 hurdles, six in the 400 and two as a member of the 4x400.
The Saints had four other auto-qualifying performances: two in high jump and two in pole vault.
Emma Valentine won the WHAC high jump gold with a jump of 5-8 3/4 (1.75m). Morgan Lutton hit her first auto of the season as runner-up with a height of 5-6 (1.68m).
Vaulters Emma Stewart and Margherita Conrad went 1-2 -- both at 12-9 1/2 (3.90m) -- with Stewart taking first place on a tiebreaker.
Siena Heights' 4x400 relay team marked a provisional time of 3:59.96 to place runner-up. The quartet included Brooke Sharp, Terria Fisher, Richards and Jenna-Ann Johnson.
Team Standings
1. Madonna 184
2. Cornerstone 138
3. Indiana Tech 137.5
4. Siena Heights 110.5
5. Aquinas 84
6. Lawrence Tech 26
7. Cleary 8
8. Concordia 6
9. Defiance 4
10. Rochester Christian 3
Siena Heights scorers (110 1/2)
Richards (24) - 1st, long jump, 19-1 1/2 (5.83m); 2nd, 60 hurdles, 8.65 seconds; 3rd, 400, 58.02
Valentine (10) - 1st, high jump, 5-8 3/4 (1.75m)
Stewart (10) - 1st, pole vault, 12-9 1/2 (3.90m)
Jenna-Ann Johnson (10) - 3rd, 60, 7.80; 5th, 200, 25.91
Lutton (8) - 2nd, high jump, 5-6 (1.68m)
Conrad (8) - 2nd, pole vault, 12-9 1/2 (3.90m)
4x400 Relay (8) - 2nd, 3:59.96 (Sharp, Fisher, Richards, Johnson)
Bailey McCulloch (6) - 3rd, 800, 2:21.35
Jordan Lumbrezer (5) - 4th, weight throw, 49-11 1/4 (15.22m)
Faith Jackson (4) - 5th, 60 hurdles, 9.03
Fisher (4) - 5th, triple jump, 34-4 (10.46m)
4x800 Relay (4) - 5th, 10:43.58 (Samantha LaFountain, Jordyn Bronowski, McCulloch, Jeralding Olivas)
Haley Bell (3) - 6th, 5,000, 19:24.65
Akiyah Ash (3) - 6th, weight throw, 47-4 1/2 (14.44m)
Samantha Nowell (2 1/2) - T-6th, pole vault, 10-11 3/4 (3.35m)
Brooke Hildebrandt (1) - 8th, 5,000, 11:14.68
