TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian University junior sprinter Helen Davis and sophomore high jumper Lexi Groff have been selected as the Landmark Conference Women's Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performances last week.
Davis ran a PR and All-Atlantic Region Track & Field qualifying time of 8.04 seconds to finish as the runner-up in the 60-meter dash at the Alvernia University PLEX Shootout on Saturday, and she posted a time of 8.11 in the 60-meter dash preliminaries to head to the finals in third. Davis was also the runner-up in the 200-meter dash with a PR and AARTF qualifying time of 26.42 seconds. Davis ran the leadoff leg of the Greyhounds "A" 4x200-meter relay squad that finished third in a time of 1:51.47.
"Helen has been her usual steady self this season and we're seeing that result in her consistently drop times through the season," stated Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jesse Baumann. "She's as critical of herself as anyone and is constantly asking us how she can improve, especially her extension at the start. That eagerness to improve is the reason we're seeing her continue to take off like she has.
"Her 60 has been consistently strong this season, but her 200 in particular is what has really started to see improvements in," continued Baumann. "She had a busy day on Saturday with the 4x200 as well, so by the time she got to the 200 she was pretty tired. It definitely showed in the last 30m of that race, and if not for the 4x200 before, I think she could have had the energy to approach the 25 second range. However, we expect that'll happen before this indoor season is done."
Groff captured first in the high jump at the Alvernia PLEX Shootout with an AARTF qualifying height of 1.61 meters (5-3.25).
"At the AARTFC meet up in Rochester last May, Lexi had a huge breakthrough which undoubtedly carried over to this indoor season both in her confidence and her fitness," Baumann noted. "She's had four consecutive meets eclipsing the 5'3" bar and we often say when you have consistency like that, you're poised for a breakout.
"She ordered some new high jump spikes this week which we feel will help her grip in her "J turn" where she's been losing some speed. Adding that to her routine along with that consistency I just mentioned I feel will lead to a big breakthrough for her that could give her a shot at our school record in the coming weeks, and ultimately a shot at making the NCAAs," finished Baumann.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Friday, February 11 in the Fasttrack Invitational at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, New York with competition beginning at 12:00 p.m.
