NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (Jan. 19, 2013) - The Mount Holyoke College track & field team returned to action on Saturday, finishing fifth of nine teams at the Beynon Invitational, hosted by Smith College. The Lyons were led by a number of solid performances, including senior Maddie Ballon, who finished second in the pole vault.

 Ballon (Gillette, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) posted a height of 2.60 meters in the event to finish runner-up. Other strong efforts in the field events included senior Connie Ward (Troy, N.Y./Emma Willard), who was fourth in the shot put with a distance of 9.65 meters.

In the track events, the Lyons distance medley relay team took second overall with a time of 13:33.76, while the 4x400 relay team was fourth overall with a mark of 4:37.28. Individually, sophomore Dana Fry (Avon, Conn./Miss Porter's School), pictured left, finished fourth in the 5000-meter run with a time of 19:31.65.

First year Elizabeth DeLeon (Boise, Idaho/Timberline) placed fourth in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:15.38, while junior LuAnne Jessop (West Jordan, Utah/West Jordan) finished third in the 500-meter run in a time of 1:29.45. Rounding out the solid efforts was senior Jenna Slipke (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central), who was fourth in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:47.32.

Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday when it competes in the Springfield College Invitational beginning at 11am.

Photo courtesy of Frank Poulin Sports Photography