HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women's indoor track and field season began this weekend as the team competed in two meets.  On Saturday, they started in Winston-Salem, NC at the JDL College Kickoff and then went to Christopher Newport University on Sunday for the CNU Holiday Open.

In Winston-Salem, the Lady Pirates came away with seven top ten finishes topped by Meshala Morton who won the 60 meters as the junior ran a 7.55.  

The 4x400 relay team of Erin Morrison, Morton, Saenea Williams and Sashana Hinds took second in 3:55.49.  Freshman Mallory Pitchford took fourth in her first collegiate meet in the 60 meter hurdles running an 8.84.

In the mile, the Lady Pirates took a sixth and a ninth place as sophomore Pollyanna Velasco finished sixth in 5:20.57.  Senior Amanda DeLaCruz took ninth in 5:24.57.

The 200 meters saw a seventh and eighth for Hampton as freshman Jaelen Leonard took seventh in 26.01, while Williams was eighth in 26.04.

At Christopher Newport University on Sunday, the Lady Pirates finished fifth in the team standings with 40 points among the NCAA Division I teams in the meet.

The distance events took stage on Sunday as in the 3000 meters freshman Asia Johnson took second in 11:21.83, while fellow freshman Alycia Higgins was third in 11:21.88.  Increasing to the 5000, Velasco won the event in 18:42.99, while DeLaCruz was fourth in 19:28.71.

The 4x400 relay team of Morrison, Morton, Hinds and Alysha Evans had the fastest time in 3:40.22 in their heat.

Freshman Ayana Culhane took seventh in the shot put with a throw of 12.38meters (40-7.5 ft) to round out the top ten finishers.

Next up for the Lady Pirates will be their first competition of 2017 when they travel to Fairfax for the Father Diamond Invitational hosted by George Mason University on Jan. 7.

For more information on the Hampton University women's indoor track and field team, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5906 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.