Results
 
LEXINGTON, Va.- The Queens University of Charlotte men's and women's track and field teams traveled to the Virginia Military Institute today to compete in the VMI Team Challenge. The meet was the first for the Royals since both teams swept the South Atlantic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships for the third consecutive season last February.

"Overall we had some strong performances," Queens director of cross country and track and field Jim Vahrenkamp commented. "COVID-19 has been another form of adversity and this group is responding well to that challenge. We had several national marks in our first meet in four different event groups. That achievement speaks to the continued development and quality of student-athlete that we have been able to recruit to Queens."

Queens left today's meet having claimed five first-place finishes. Junior Elise Ulseth led the way with two after taking first in the high jump with a mark of 1.68-meters and first in the long jump with a mark of 6.09-meters. Ulseth's mark in the long jump was a new record at Corps Physical Training Facility and both marks were NCAA DII Provisionals. The multi athlete also took fourth place in the 60-meter hurdles and 13^th in the 200.
 
Katinka Prestoey secured her top spot on the track racing to victory in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:18.20.
 
On the men's team, Adam Wright took first place in the mile clocking a time of 4:14.28 while Martin Knauer recorded a throw of 17.16-meters for first place in the shot put. Knauer's mark was an NCAA DII Provisional and the senior also took third place in the men's weight throw with a mark of 16.71.
 
Also recording an NCAA DII Provisional mark was Jan Lukas Becker who took second place in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:17.84.
 
"It was fun to see the team get back on the track and compete for the first time in almost a year, said Queens head cross country and assistant track and field coach Tom Scott. With Jan Lukas Becker running an NCAA qualifying mark in the 3k and Adam Wright winning the mile, we are excited for the weeks ahead."
 
Natalie Bash raced in the women's 3,000-meter run taking third place in 10:21.64 while Stevie Lawrence-Wrist took second in the women's mile in 5:05.48.
 
Off the track, Esma Pajt recorded a throw of 13.38-meters in the women's weight throw to take second place while To'mara Carmichael took seventh in the shot put with a mark of 12.66-meters.

"Despite the challenges COVID-19 has presented, the throws group started the season off well, Queens assistant track and field coach Jacob McBride stated. "Better in some instances than they did last year. Our athletes have come back eager to compete, and I see no reason this season should be anything but successful."

Additionally, Stefan Jungmichel (4.10m) and Niklas Klei (3.95m) took third and fifth, respectively, in the pole vault. Klei also raced to a fourth-place finish in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 50.10.
 
The Royals will travel back to VMI on January 29-30 to compete in the Winter Relays.