The Georgetown women’s track and field team started the season off strong in its first indoor meet of the season at the Navy Lid Lifter in Annapolis, Md.  The Hoyas won six individual events, including 400-meter facility record by senior Jody-Ann Knight.

Director of Track and Field Julie Culley praised the team’s overall performance at the season opener.

“It was great to see our sprinters, hurdlers and middle-distance athletes open tonight after a full fall of training,” Culley said in an interview with GUHoyas.

The highlight of the meet was Knight’s record-setting win in the 400m race with a time of 55.83 seconds, which also marked a new personal record for the senior.

Culley expressed optimism for upcoming competition in response to this race.

“[Knight] opened her season with a lifetime best, breaking the Naval Academy Field House record,” Culley said. “It was an exciting way to kick-start the season and we look forward to resuming in January.”

In addition to the victory in the 400m race, the Hoyas found success in the sprints. With a time of 24.91 seconds, graduate student Taylor Williams scored a victory for the team in the 200m race.

Georgetown’s middle distance runners also found success in Annapolis. Freshman Olivia Arizin won the 1000m race with a time of 2:55.64 in her debut track meet for Georgetown.

The Hoyas dominated the one-mile race, as every top finisher in the race ran cross-country this fall. In this event, Georgetown swept four out of the top five spots. Senior Piper Donaghu took first with a time of 4:48.98, while teammate and graduate student Meredith Rizzo followed right behind in 4:49.40. Senior Josette Norris followed next at 4:53.63 and sophomore Margie Cullen earned fifth with a time of 4:59.90.

The 4x800m relay team — featuring Rizzo, Norris, sophomore Kate Gobi and sophomore Morgan Irish — secured a collective victory with a time of 9:21.67, marking the second win of the competition for Rizzo and Norris.

Gobi also placed third as an individual in the 800m race in 2:16.16, making her the only Hoya in the event to break into the top five.

The 3000m race also demonstrated an impressive return of competitors from cross country with first and second place finishes by Georgetown. Senior Autumn Eastman took first with a time of 9:43.99 and senior Madeline Perez placed second less than three seconds later in 9:46.52.

Culley noted the impressive nature of freshman Malika Houston’s fourth place finish in the 60m hurdles.

“In her first ever race for Georgetown, she ran 8.80 in the 60m hurdles, ranking fourth on the Hoyas’ all-time list,” Culley said.

Houston’s time also set a new personal record for the freshman.

Following this meet, Georgetown’s season will pause until next year.  The Hoyas return to competition Saturday, Jan. 13 when the season resumes at the Nittany Lion Challenge.