(CLAREMONT, Calif.) PLNU Women's Track & Field is off and running in 2023 after a successful season opener at the Pomona-Pitzer Collegiate All-Comers Meet on Saturday.
 
"The women's track team got off to a flying and exciting start," Head Coach Jerry Arvin said. "We had three additions to our top-10 list in our opening meet."
 
Aubrie Nex (3,000 meters), Makenna Sullivan (triple jump) and Eva Koutelieris (pole vault) either moved into or up the program top-10 list.
 
Koutelieris won the women's pole vault with a mark of 3.50 meters, which tied with APU's Abigail Keane, but the PLNU junior cleared that height on her second attempt compared to Keane's third. Koutelieris jumped from ninth to seventh in program history in the event.
 
Nex now ranks as the fifth-best Sea Lion all-time in the 3,000 meters after her second-place finish on Saturday in a time of 10:04.87.
 
Sullivan placed second herself in the triple jump, with her 11.00-meter mark moving her into ninth all-time in program history.
 
She added two other top-five finishes, placing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.59 seconds) and fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:07.80).
 
Madelynn Worley finished fourth (25.78 seconds) and Blanca Granados placed seventh (26.61 seconds) out of 35 runners in the 200-meter dash.
 
"Our hurdlers got off with good early season marks, as did our 200-meter runners," Arvin said.
 
Bree Gentry finished third in the 800 meters (2:19.63), while Jazmin Santos placed fourth (1:02.61) in the 400 meters.
 
"Bree Gentry had a very good opening 800 meters, as did Jazmin Santos in the 400," Arvin said.
 
Reagan Cole, Sullivan, Granados and Worley won the 4x400 meter relay in a time of 4:11.03.
 
"Both relay teams ran well and we had multiple PR's to start the season," Arvin said. "Our throwers were either at their personal best or set new ones."
 
Sarah Pratt (2:26.17 – 800 meters), Gabriella Lopez (1.45 meters – high jump) and Madison Simmers (4.83 meters – long jump) placed fifth in their respective events.
 
"Everyone performed well," Arvin said. "Several of our top girls competed at less than their best due to sickness but still competed at a high level. All in all, for our first competition since April 2022, we are off to a super start."
 
Point Loma will next host the Loma Invite on March 11.