BETHANY, W.Va. -- The Grove City College women's track and field team opened the 2023 outdoor season by competing in the Bethany College Invitational at Don Ault Field. Grove City produced two event winners and a pair of runner-up finishers at Saturday's meet, helping the Wolverines place fourth out of 15 teams with 79.5 team points. Division II West Liberty won the event with 149.5 points.

Sophomore Ella Lyle (Hurricane, W.Va./Ignite) and freshman Audrey Karwowski (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) each secured wins for Grove City. Lyle won the 3000 steeplechase in a time of 11 minutes, 53.37 seconds. Karwowski captured the 800 in a time of 2:30.78.

Karwowski edged sophomore teammate Lydia Bennett (Bethel, Maine/Gould Academy) for the 800 win as Bennett took second in 2:31.28. Freshman Megan Wise (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau) paced Grove City in the field events by earning runner-up in the discus. Wise made her outdoor collegiate debut with a best throw of 117 feet, 7 inches. 

Junior Katie Baller (Lone Tree, Colo./Valor Christian) earned third in the high jump by clearing 4-11 3/4. Sophomore Emma Fiscus (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) finished third in the 1500 (5:09.03). Meanwhile, sophomore Kaylynn Johnson (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) finished fourth in the 800 with a time of 2:32.33. 

Sophomore Alayna Stiansen (Kintnersville, Pa./Palisades) earned fifth in the 1500 (5:20.17) while sophomore Clara Hannon (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) took fifth in the triple jump with a best leap of 32-8 1/4.

Freshman Annie Vannoy (Waldoboro, Maine/Medomak Valley) took fifth in the 400 (63.30), one spot ahead of Karwowski (63.65). Vannoy also finished sixth in the triple jump (31-8) while Fiscus palced sixth in the 800 (2:34.57).

Hannon and sophomore Tori Stewart (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) tied for seventh in the high jump as each athlete cleared 4-7 3/4. Wise earned seventh in the javelin (91-9). Sophomore Natalie Minnaar (Meridian, Mich./Capital) took seventh in the 400 hurdles with a 1:22.64 clocking. Sophomore Danika Sudar (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) placed eighth in the discus with a best throw of 102 feet. 

Grove City returns to action next Saturday at the Slippery Rock Invitational.