Two Podium Finishes Highlight Day One at UCF

Friday, March 19

Orlando, FLA.

All Day

Mercer University

Black & Gold Invite

Photo by: Larry Dancy

3/19/2021 11:22:00 PM | Track & Field

Ashley McMahon won the 2000-meter steeplechase, and Marina Van Sickle finished second in the 5000-meter run.

By: Kraig Doremus

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ashley McMahon took home the gold in the women's 2000-meter steeplechase and Marina Van Sickle came home second in the 5000-meter run, as the Mercer Bears began competition at the UCF Black & Gold Invite on Friday afternoon.

The day started at 1 p.m., but the Bears did not compete in an event until later in the afternoon when Chidimma Uwaomah represented the Orange & Black in the long jump. Uwaomah finished 16^th in the field, jumping an impressive 4.56 meters.

Lauryn Dancy paced the Bears in their next event of the day, the 200-meter dash, finishing just outside the top-25 in 26^th. Dancy ran the event in 25.64 seconds. Ceylani Rembert (25.90) and Kennedi Weston-Shields (26.13) finished 29^th and 31^st respectively, while Uwaomah and Hannah Cooper crossed the start-finish line in 36^th and 40^th with times of 26.62 and 27.18 seconds. Both Uwaomah and Weston-Shields recorded personal bests in the event.

Giulia Giorgi and Bella Rhone represented the Bears in the 1500-meter run with a pair of top-20 finishes. Giorgi (5:08.09) came home 17^th, and Rhone was clocked at 5:23.52 in 19^th.
McMahon's gold medal came late in the afternoon as she ran the 2000-meter steeplechase in 7:31.30, topping Brenna Mullaney and Mikaela Brown from UCF.

Van Sickle was nearly victorious in the final event of the night, the 5000-meter run. She finished less than three seconds behind Bridgid Selfors, taking home the silver medal after clocking in a new personal best of 18:27.75 Whitney Johnson also set a new personal best with her fifth-place effort and time of 19:44.73

Long Jump
16. Chidimma Uwaomah – 4.56 meters

200-meter Dash
26. Lauryn Dancy – 25.64 seconds
29. Ceylani Rembert – 25.90 seconds
31. Kennedi Weston-Shields – 26.13 seconds
36. Chidimma Uwaomah – 26.62 seconds
40. Hannah Cooper – 27.18 seconds.

1500-meter Run
17. Giulia Giorgi – 5:08.09
19. Bella Rhone – 5:23.52

2000-meter Steeplechase
1. Ashley McMahon – 7:31.30

5000-meter Run
2. Marina Van Sickle – 18:27.75
5. Whitney Johnson – 19:44.73

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Track & Field, follow the team at @MercerXCTF (Twitter), /mercerxctf (Facebook) and @mercerbearsxctf (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.