Goucher Edges Juniata for 1st Place in Women's DMR

SELINSGROVE, Md. — Goucher's June Chiango (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area) beat the No. 4 runner from Juniata across the finish line by 1.64 seconds, nailing down her team's first-place finish in the distance medley relay at the 2014 Landmark Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships, conducted here today.

Kathryn Walker (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) led off Goucher's entry in the distance medley relay, handling the first 1,200 meters. She was followed by Danielle Granger (Amherst, Va./Amherst County), who took the next 400 meters,  Ellie Ginsberg (Ocean Twp., N.J./Ocean Twp.), the next 800 meters, and finally Chiango, who wrapped up the victory with her effort in the final 1,600 meters. The aggregate time of the foursome was 13:45.32.

The Gophers were the runners-up in the distance medley at the Landmark's 2007-08 and 2011-12 indoor meets, but the only other indoor conference title they've won in a relay event was in the 4 x 200-meter relay in 2011-12.

By finishing first, the Gophers picked up 10 points toward their team score.

They earned an additional six points from the fifth-place finishes by Maffio Appiah-Padi (Edmonton, Alberta/Lewisburg Area) in the weight throw, Granger in the 60-meter hurdles and Katelynn Zidanic (York, Pa./Central York) in the 5,000 meters.

Appiah-Padi made it into the finals of the weight throw with her effort of 11.96 meters (39'3") on her final attempt. She wasn't able to improve on that distance on any of her three tries in the finals.

Granger was clocked at 10.42 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles; Zidanic at 19:39.51 in the 5,000 meters.

Goucher's entry of Granger, Rebecca Kotula (Fallston, Md./John Carroll School), Walker and Zidanic completed the 4 x 400-meter relay in 4:43.75, good for sixth place.

Including the point they were awarded in the 4 x 400 relay, the Gophers finished in fifth place in the team standings with a score of 17 points.