James Breaks School Record At Emory Thrills In The Hills

Friday, March 27

Atlanta, Ga.

All Day

Mercer University

(2) Emory Thrills in the Hills

James Breaks School Record At Emory Thrills In The Hills

3/28/2026 8:45:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

ATLANTA – Junior Emma James eclipsed the school record in the 1500m Run by more than four seconds, while three Bears finished among the top 6 in the 3000m Steeplechase, to highlight action for the Mercer track & field team at the Emory Thrills In The Hills event at the Woodruff PE Center Stadium.

James registered a runner-up finish among 21 competitors in Friday's invitational session of the prestigious distance event, and broke former teammate Nikki Harris's 1-year-old superlative (4:32.35) in the process. Freshman Abbie Kallbreier, likewise, finished runner-up in the grueling 3000m Steeplechase and was joined in the top 6 by Olivia Jones (4^th) and Courtney Calhoun (6^th).

Eight different Bears posted new personal bests in their respective disciplines across the two-day event in Atlanta.

The Bears are back in action again on Friday and Saturday when the sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers trek to southeastern Alabama for the Troy-hosted Doc Anderson Multi & Invitational. The distance squad will return to action, April 9-11, at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C.

EMORY THRILLS IN THE HILLS (MARCH 27-28)
800m Run
16	Ava Ryan	2:22.34

1500m Run
14	Abigail Winford	! 5:14.59

1500m Run Invitational
2	Emma James	$! 4:28.15
10	Ava Ryan	! 4:50.79

5000m Run
3	Paula Sandoval	! 17:44.21
18	Mackenzie Crowe	! 18:38.15
32	Emily Ireland	! 19:34.73

3000m Steeplechase
2	Abbie Kallbreier	! 11:17.17
4	Olivia Jones	11:26.29
6	Courtney Calhoun	! 11:53.78
n/a	Kamryn Copeland	DNF

$ - School Record Time ! - Personal Best Time