Women’s Track And Field: Flyers Approach Conference Competition

Carley Roberts
Contributing Writer

Dayton’s women’s track and field indoor season is off to a fast start.

Newcomers such as freshman Jahmia Bridges-Butler, a sprinter, and freshman Corey Rinella, who competes in multi-events, excelled at the two-day Findlay Indoor Track and Field Classic on the weekend of Jan. 26-27.

Bridges-Butler finished second in the 60m hurdle final and was also part of a second-place 4x400m relay team.

Rinella finished fourth overall in the pentathlon, during which she won the 60m hurdles portion and recorded a personal record in the shot put portion (9.19m).

“Corey Rinella had a very nice first pentathlon,” coach Jason Ordway said after the meet.

“We found some things we can work on, but she surprised us and herself in a few areas. It was fun to watch.”
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Senior Sarah Sepanski has been unable to compete recently, sitting out as a precaution due to injury. Her first meet back will be the indoor A-10 Conference meet. She expressed her and the team’s excitement to perform at conference.

“This year as a team everyone is really pumped and I think it’ll be a good meet to put everything together,” Sepanski said.

“This year is the first year I really feel like we have a balanced team in all of our events, from distance to throws, to a lot of sprints and jump events that we didn’t have last year.”

Last year, Sepanski was the Atlantic 10 champion for the indoor pentathlon. She is also No. 2 all-time in Dayton history for the same event.

Just looking at their achievements thus far in the season, the Flyers have the ability to do well at conference.

“[We’ve had] super consistent performances, and everyone wants to peak at conference. It’s looking like everyone will,” Sepanski explained. “We are all looking forward to conference for sure.”
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Junior Taylor Vernot, a veteran of Dayton cross country and track and field, has lofty personal goals for the meet, at which she will run the 5K and 3K races.

“We have a couple weeks yet but I’d like to place in the top three in both of my events at conference,” she said.

What’s next?

The Flyers next compete at the SPIRE Invitational in Geneva, Ohio on Feb. 9 and 10 before traveling to Kingston, Rhode Island for the conference meet on Feb. 17 and 18.

Indoor conference is Feb. 17 and 18 at Mackal Fieldhouse in Kingston.

Photo courtesy of Erik Schelkun/Dayton Athletics