TIFFIN, Ohio - Tiffin women's track and field got an NCAA automatic qualifying mark from Marisa Gwinner in the high jump as well as six other provisional marks as they opened the 2019-20 indoor season with the Tiffin Alumni Open on Saturday.
Gwinner's mark of 1.76m also breaks her own school record as she has punched her ticket to the 2020 DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala. in March. Gwinner will look to build off her impressive freshman year after placing third in the event at last year's indoor championships and taking the high jump title at the outdoor championships.
The six NCAA provisional qualifying marks came in three events - the 60m, pole vault, and shot put. In the 60m, Rajiah Andrews took first in 7.51 seconds for the provo, a mark that is also second all-time at Tiffin in the event. Tatiyana Cooper-Laylor was right behind in second with a mark of 7.64 seconds, also earning the provo and ranking as the third-fastest time in program history in the event.
Lydia DePrey notched the second-highest vault in Tiffin women's history with a 3.69m mark in the pole vault, good enough for a provo. Madeline Hayes also did well in the event, clearing 3.59m to equal the provisional qualifying standard.
Tiffin's other two provos came in the shot put, as 2019 Indoor NCAA qualifiers Brenda Johnson and Nicole Berry both threw well to open the new season. Johnson won the event with a throw of 14.69m, while Berry achieved a mark of 13.96m for second place.
Other notable performances included Rajiah Andrews and Jazilee Williams placing third and fourth in the 60m Hurdles, Keyonna McGill taking first in the 400m, Tatiyana Cooper-Laylor finishing second in the 200m, Chloe Will placing second in the 3000m, Jazilee Williams and Mercedeez Francis tying for third in the high jump, Shalbe Evans finishing second and Jazilee Williams third in the long jump, Miaisha Blair taking first and Shalbe Evans second in the triple jump, Alaura Holycross finishing fourth in the weight throw, and Tiffin's A and B 4x400m Relay squads taking first and second.