Gophers Start Outdoor Year Strong in Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Only Goucher hall of famer Natalie Williams Brewer has registered a shot put toss further than the top distance put up by Bri Prince (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) this afternoon.

Prince, competing in her first meet of the season as the Gophers' outdoor season got underway at the Battleground Relays, placed third overall with a throw of 10.86 meters (35'7 3/4"). The previous top throw from anyone other than Brewer was a toss of 10.77 meters (35'3') from Abby Cooney at the 2011 Landmark championships. Prince also earned a fourth place finish with a top result of 26.14 meters (85'9") in the javelin.

That represented two of Goucher's seven top five performances during the two day meet hosted by Mary Washington. No team scoring was kept over the weekend.

Rebecca Kotula (Fallston, Md./John Carroll School) had the top event showing for the Gophers, clearing 2.29 meters (7'6") in the pole vault to finish in a tie for second. Danielle Granger added a third place result in the 400 meter hurdles, crossing the line in 1:14.10.

Goucher's other top results came in relay events. Amanda Tascarella (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point), Kotula, Ellie Ginsberg (Ocean Twp., N.J./Ocean Twp.) and Barbara Hounsou (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) placed third in the distance medley relay with a time of 14:13.76. Laura Williams (Verona, N.J./Verona), Hounsou, Kotula and Annie Drascher (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) took fourth in the sprint medley relay (2:12.51), while Kotula, Ginsberg, Hounsou and Williams finished fifth in the 4x200 meter relay (2:03.60).

The Gophers return to action at the Gallaudet Invitational next Saturday. The first event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.