TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian University senior sprinter Helen Davis and junior jumper Lexi Groff have been honored as the Landmark Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performances last week at the Ursinus College Bow Tie Invitational as the Greyhounds tied for first of ten teams.
Davis took first in the 60-meter dash Friday evening in an All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference qualifying time of 7.93 seconds to garner 10 points, and Davis also had the fastest time in the preliminaries in 7.88 seconds. Davis also placed first in the 200-meter dash with an AARTFC qualifying time of 26.36 seconds, tying her indoor PR in the distance, to score 10 more points of Moravian's 132.5 points. Davis currently ranks 13th in the nation in the 60-meter dash and 16th in the country in the 200-meter dash on the TFRRS List.
"Helen had one of her best all-around indoor meets on Friday," stated Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann. "Her 60m in prelims was within 0.02 of her lifetime best, and her 200m tied her indoor best, which she set when she was tapered in peak form at the end of last indoor season.
"This week, she was battling a tight hamstring that at one point was jeopardizing her participation in the meet," Baumann said. "Additionally, there is still a lot we're trying to correct with her push out of the blocks and fully extending so there's room to grow to help her get into the 7.7s for the 60m, which she'll need for NCAAs. Regardless, it was a great meet and an encouraging sign for what she can do in January."
Groff, who repeats as the Landmark Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week, won the high jump Friday with an AARTFC and personal best height of 1.66 meters (5-5.25). Groff earned 10 points for the victory, and her mark is the second highest in school history as she cleared the bar in her second attempt at the height. Groff is currently third in the nation on the TFRRS List.
"In our sport, consistency is often a sign that you're ready for a breakthrough," commented Baumann. Over the past 10 months, Lexi has become extremely comfortable with the 1.65m bar, in fact the meet last week was the fourth time she's cleared that, so we knew she's ready to reach higher bars, it was just a matter of time.
"Friday was that time as she set her PR on her second jump, and what's even more encouraging is at the 1.68m bar, which she'll likely need to make NCAAs, she nearly cleared on her 3rd attempt," Baumann continued. "On that jump she had plenty of hip height, she just brushed it at the end with her lower calf, so we know she'll be able to get over that 5'6" bar when we get back here in January."
The Greyhounds will have over a month off before returning to competition on Saturday, January 21 when the squad hosts the Moravian Indoor Meet at Lehigh University's Rauch Fieldhouse with action starting at 10:00 a.m.
