The Elon University women’s track team put in one of the team’s best performances during the Southern Conference Championship meet this past weekend by finishing fourth. Three runners took first place in their respective event – sophomore Suzanne Martin in the javelin competition with a throw of 41.85 meters, freshman Caroline McCaslin in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:42.95 and  junior Kimberlyn Holt in the hammer throw with a throw of 53.45 meters.

“It’s always good to have conference champions and that’s exciting to see,” said head coach Mark Elliston.

McCaslin was joined on the podium by two other teammates.  Senior Emily Tryon finished third in the event while freshman Charlise Morgan took home a second place finish.

“It was really good to see our distance group do well,” Elliston said. “To see them come through in the steeple and to sweep it did a lot for the team.”

The top three finishes in the event marked the first time the Phoenix has ever swept an event.  Distance coach Christine Engel presented the lofty goal at the beginning of the season to sweep the event, and the runners were able to achieve it.

“It’s always nice to have a goal, but once you accomplish it, it’s even sweeter,” Engel said.

The sweep in the event marked a complete turnaround from the indoor conference meet, where the distance runners failed to score many points at all.

“We did not do to well at the indoor meet so we were very motivated for the outdoor meet,” said Engel.

Holt’s hammer throw was not only enough to win the event, but it was also a personal best for her even though she battled nerves all afternoon.

“I was pretty intimidated because it’s my first year at Div. I,”  Holt said. “I knew I was seeded first and I didn’t like that because of all the expectations on you.”

Despite fouling on her first throw, Holt was able to still win the event.

“She was No. 1 all season and went into the championship meet and threw a big throw and took care of business,” said throwers coach Michael Gushbeth.

Martin, winner of the javelin, was joined near the top by sophomore Jennifer Jarvis. Martin’s joy came not only from her individual success, but also from the achievements of her teammates.

“We’re so close as a group, especially the throwers,” Martin said. ”It’s such a blessing to go to practice with them every day. I get more exciting to watch them throw during the meets than I do when I throw.”

Morgan once again found herself returning to the podium after a strong showing at the shot put event. In Morgan’s three years at Elon, she has finished second in the shot put all three times. Gushbeth believes Morgan will break into the winner’s circle next season after coming so close three times.

Elon struggled with injuries during the season, especially leading up to the conference meet.

“We were not supposed to do as good as we did because we had quite a few injuries,” Holt said.  Martin even admitted to doubt existing in the team as a result of all of the injuries.

However, the Phoenix was able to support each other and rally support from within.

“At a couple of events, we were gathered around the track every couple yards and you could just see the girls running from one teammate to the next and we would keep yelling at them and encouraging them,” Martin said.

The rallying and motivation existed beyond just the meet. Runners, throwers and coaches alike acknowledge the hard work and the success that came out.

“Everything we do is for the outcome of (the Southern Conference) meet,” Elliston said. “As we’re racing, training, competing, jumping, throwing, we are doing that with the big conference meet in mind.”

“Our girls are very, very motivated and they want to win,” Engel said. ”They train very hard and they push each other in practice. They want to compete at the highest level. So it’s something that the runners have made a commitment on a daily basis to do all of the work that it takes to compete at that level.”

After a successful run in the conference meet, the runners and throwers will look to make the most of the remaining meets to boost their personal records and seek entrance into the NCAA East regional meet. The Phoenix will be off until May 5 when they travel to Durham to participate in the Duke Twilight meet.