SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - If this weekend's performance at the PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships is any indication, the future is bright for the Millersville women's track and field program. There was an All-PSAC performance in the shot put from senior Aliyah Striver, but Millersville's young, talented roster was showcased on the championship's final day where the Marauders finished fifth in a 14-team field. It is the sixth time in seven years that Millersville has finished in the top five. 

Millersville finished with 66 points, just a half-point behind fourth-place Kutztown. The difference between those two teams in the standings came down to the 4x400-meter relay where the Golden Bears edged the Marauders at the line for third place by just .18. The team of Amanda Bruno, Mia Carson, Lyric Williams and Aurora Conrad placed fourth with a time of 4:01.26 while Kutztown ran a 4:01.08. 

All four members of the relay team are a junior or younger, and all four made their PSAC Outdoor Championships debuts. That was a common theme for Millersville athletes this weekend, and it was a similar case in the 4x100-meter relay, where Conrad, Williams, freshman Emma Elwell and junior Gabby Karch--the only runner with championship experience--placed second with a season-best time of 48.22.

"Obviously, we would like to finish a bit stronger, but we are happy with the efforts and attitudes from the group here," said Millersville head coach Andy Young. "I think with us adding some pieces next year and getting a year of experience, this team is going to keep improving. We hope to challenge for a title again in the near future."

It was an especially busy day for Bruno, who ran four races. In addition to her two relays, she took fourth in the 200-meter dash, which was rained out on Friday and moved to Saturday. Conrad posted a time of 25.41. She also took sixth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.30. 

Two more redshirt freshmen scored points in the javelin. Cassie Sharrow's PR of 124-7--the 10th-best toss in Millersville history--placed her in sixth. Kandice Liebl took seventh with a toss of 123-3. Sophomore pole vaulter Caitlin Miller also competed at the championships for the first time and placed 13th with a height of 9-9 3/4. 

Striver, one of the team's few experienced seniors, picked up her second All-PSAC finish of the weekend by hitting 42-10 1/4 and placing third in the shot put. Striver, a former PSAC Indoor Championships Athlete of the Meet, is now a five-time All-PSAC performer. 

Earlier in the weekend, Millersville's Kaitlin Moyer finished second in the heptathlon, and sophomore Hannah Woelfling, making her championships debut, won the hammer and finished second in the discus. Woelfling's season is likely to continue as she is currently ranked 11th nationally in the hammer. The NCAA Division II Championships are scheduled for May 27-29 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and the selection show is May 18.