(LEBANON, Ill., March 25)—The McKendree University women's track and field team began its 2013 outdoor season the Saint Louis University Billiken Kickoff Meet, which was held Friday and Saturday in St. Louis.
 
The Bearcats enjoyed a successful opening meet with 10 different individuals capturing top-10 finishes over the weekend. McKendree had two throwers who each earned a trio of top-10 efforts at Saint Louis University. Senior Kristin Wykoff (Highland, IL/Triad) led the way by finishing in the top five of three different events. Wykoff was second overall in the shot put at 12.07 meters (39 feet, 7 ¼ inches), third in the discus at 36.34 meters (119 feet, three inches) and fourth in the hammer throw with a toss of 42.76 meters (140 feet, three inches).
 
Freshman Hannah Wilhelm (Trenton, IL/Wesclin) grabbed sixth place in the shot put with a throw of 9.43 meters (30 feet, 11 ¾ inches). Wilhelm was also sixth in the hammer throw at 31.62 meters (103 feet, nine inches) and was 10^th in the discus with a heave of 22.64 meters (74 feet, three inches).
 
McKendree also had two more individuals that turned in top-five performance in the triple jump. Junior LaTia Jefferson (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) brought home third place in the event with a distance of 10.63 meters (34 feet, 10 ½ inches). Freshman Emma Basler (Anna, IL/Anna-Jonesboro) was close behind in fifth place at 9.89 meters (32 feet, 5 ½ inches).
 
In the 5,000-meter run, McKendree dominated the event with three top-five finishers. Junior Megan Doty (Collinsville, IL/Triad) paced the group in second place with a time of 18:42.26. Junior Hannah Inyart (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) was right behind in third place at 18:44.50, while junior Lauren Ewart (Troy, IL/Triad) crossed the finish line in fifth place with a time of 20:12.67.
 
Freshman Lynn Ford (St. Louis, MO/Normandy) took home fourth place in the 100-meter hurdles with her effort of 16.52 seconds. Sophomore Christine Cunningham (St. Jacob, IL/Triad) earned sixth place in the 800-meter run as she posted a time of 2:31.25, and junior Brittany Willis (St. Louis, MO/Parkway South) grabbed ninth place in the 100-meter dash at 13.49 seconds.
 
In the 4 x 400-meter relay, the McKendree squad of Basler, Ford, Willis and freshman Jessica Gerber (Moro, IL/Civic Memorial) placed fourth with a time of 52.89 seconds.
 
McKendree will return to action Friday and Saturday at the Washington University Invitational in St. Louis.