The Muhlenberg track and field teams returned to competition after more than 13 months at sunny Scotty Wood Stadium.

The Muhlenberg Invitational was different than usual, with only three teams instead of the usual 20 and no spectators, but it was a great opening meet for the Mule teams. The men had significant contributions from every event area, and the women saw some strong performances on the track and in the field as well.

The two Muhlenberg teams combined for 14 first-place finishes, including a sweep of the hurdles. Junior Kayleigh Durning (pictured above right) won both hurdles races on the women's side, while freshman Sam McDonough made a splashing debut for the men in the highs and intermediates, qualifying for regionals with the ninth-best time in program history in the former. 

Sophomore John Panny (long and triple jumps) also won two individual events, while freshman Nathan Reimer (pictured above left) captured the 1500 meters in his first race as a Mule.

Other event winners for the men were seniors Luke Ullmann in the 800, Declan Walkush in the steeplechase and Zach Lill in the pole vault. For the women, junior Abby Dalton (1500), senior Alana Noehrenberg (high jump) and sophomore Lily Benanchietti (pole vault) took first place.

Ullmann, Walkush and Dalton joined McDonough in posting regional-qualifying times. Walkush finished in 9:37.74, the third-best steeple time in program history. Sophomore Elek Ferency, in his outdoor debut for the Mules, threw the hammer 141-6, coming within seven feet of the 36-year-old school record.

complete results