Feb. 12, 2011

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels track and field team performed well Saturday afternoon at the Northern Arizona Open held in the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz. UNLV got first-place finishes from Amanda Bingson in the weight throw, Ashley Henry and Stephanie Schafer in the high jump and the 4x400 meter relay team. Bingson threw for a meet-best distance of 63-3.50 (19.29m), while the relay team topped all foursomes with a time of 3:50.78. Henry and Schafer successfully jumped 5-04.25 (1.63m) for the top spot.

In all, the Rebels had 11 top-eight finishes in track and 15 more in field events.

"The team competed very well despite the extremely cold conditions inside the stadium," said head coach Yvonne Scott. "We are now two weeks away from our the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships, so it's time to get ready for them."

Bingson and Chelsea Cassulo claimed first and second in the weight throw, as Cassulo threw 62-8.50 (19.11m). The duo flipped flopped their order of finish in the shot put with Cassulo claiming fourth with a distance of 42-10.75 (13.07m) to Bingson's 42-02.75 (12.87m), which was good enough for fifth.

Deja Edwards placed second in the long jump and third in the triple jump with distances of 18-4.50 (5.60m) and 39-1.75 (11.93m), respectively.

Lauren Petersen claimed fourth place in both the mile (5:15.91) and the 3000m (10:48.73).

Brett Zorich ran an altitude-adjusted time of 2:19.27, which placed her third in the 800m.

Emily Blok, who ran the first leg of the 4x400 meter relay, also participated in the 60m and the 200m. Blok placed fifth in the 60m with a time of 7.70 and fourth in the 200m with a time of 24.75. She was joined by Lindsay Roach, Christine Lowe and Kelsey Williamson on the relay team.

In the 400m, Williamson finished third with a time of 55.88.

The Rebels return to action on Feb. 24-26, in Albuquerque, N.M., for the MWC Indoor Championships.