The Bluffton women made their best showing in years Saturday in the HCAC Track and Field Championships, as they claimed their first-ever individual titles in the conference.
Laurel Miller and Amanda Habegger both won events Saturday to spearhead the Beavers' efforts. Miller captured the triple jump on her final jump of the competition, jumping 32-6.25 for a new personal-best. Meanwhile, Habegger improved on her own school record in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 67.92, winning the race by nearly half a second in the process. Miller also placed fourth in the high jump, with a season-best of 4-10, and both Miller and Habegger placed in the 100 meter hurdles.
The two girls also joined Jana Hammer and Katie Snyder on the 400 meter relay team which finished third, coming near the school record in a time of 52.29. Miller, Habegger, Hammer, and MaryAnna Morgan also comprised the 1600 meter relay team, which finished fourth while lowering their own school record with a time of 4:22.59.
Hammer finished a stellar freshman campaign with third-place finishes in both of the short sprints, the 100 and 200 meters. The other Bluffton athletes to place in running events were Jen Niedermier (6th, 1500 meters) and Katie Gwirtz (6th, Steeplechase).
Aside from Miller, the Beavers had two other athletes come up big in the field events. Rachel Noirot cleared eight feet in the pole vault to finish third in that event, while freshman Michelle Bailey placed third in the discus throw, with a throw of over 112 feet.
Bluffton's fifth-place finish marked the highest finish in HCAC history for the women's team.
