COLUBUS, Ohio - The Spalding University women's track & field team opened the season with a third place team finish Friday at the Capital Challenge in Columbus, Ohio.

Freshman Whitney Schuyler placed third in the pole vault clearing 3.05 meters. Freshman thrower Katie Suiters earned a third a place finish in the shot put with a throw of 10.77 meters, and placed sixth in the weight throw (8.65 m).   

The Golden Eagles had a solid day in distance events. SU placed two runners in the top-5 in 800 meter run. Janika King took second place clocking 2:28.60, Jenna Johnston finished third (2:37.02), and Kara Weaver finished just outside of the top five in sixth place running a 2:48.72. Casey Richardson led four SU runners who placed in the top-10 in the one mile placing second with a time of 5:50.67, freshman Rachael Cowles finished third (5:56.56), Weaver placed sixth (6:13.66) and Kelly Weber placed ninth (6:40.01). Kayla Payne rounded out the distance events with a sixth place finish (12:18.60).

SU also had a nice showing in the relay events. Janika King, Rachael Cowles, Kelly Weber and Kayla Payne raced the Golden Eagles to a second place finish in the 4x400 meter relay in 4:29.45, as well as a second place finish in the distance medley.  

The Golden Eagles will be back in action next Saturday at the Robert H. Johnson Little Giant Invite at Wabash College in Wabash, Indiana.