ROCHESTER, N.Y. –Roberts Wesleyan University joined the East Coast Conference for the 2014-15 season and the Redhawks' women's outdoor track and field program has won the ECC Championship each year it has been contested since.
Title No. 8 did not come easily.
Juniors Hailee Lowe, Moriah Mills and Kylee Odell each won two individual events as the host Redhawks rallied late to overtake the University of District of Columbia. Roberts finished with 160 points, UDC totaled 148 and Daemen placed third with 118.
"It was super tight," Roberts head coach Mark McCown said. "We just fought and fought and fought."
Lowe set a school record of 1:03.97 in the 400-meter hurdles and also captured the 100 hurdles in 14.95 seconds. She also finished second in the long jump (5.20 meters) and fourth in the high jump (1.50 meters) despite not having practiced in those events this spring. Her contributions added 32 points to the Redhawks' cause.
"It feels great," said Lowe. "The support from the entire team is really what did it for us today."
Mills swept the shot put (11.65 meters) and discus (35.90 meters). She teamed with Daneya Jeffers (32.85 meters) to give Roberts a late boost heading into the final two relays.
"It was a blessing," Mills said. "Given the weather that we were going against, I didn't know if we were going to be able to pull it out, but my teammates were there to support me and I give all glory to God."
Odell won both the 1,500 (4:54.63) and 800 (2:18.35) runs and ran the first leg on the winning 4-by-800 relay that secured the final points of the day for the Redhawks.
Senior Jennifer Zambuto captured the 10,000 run (39:38.46) and freshmen Annalise Grant (pole vault, 2.78 meters) and Rachel Horner-Richardson (5,000 run, 18:18.01) also captured individual wins for the Redhawks.
Other finishers in the top five included:

Second place

1,500: Acacia Barber, 4:55.05
800: Acacia Barber, 2:20.09
Discus: Daneya Jeffers, 32.85 meters
4-by-800 relay: Kylee Odell, Acacia Barber, Gianna Tribotte, Julianna Lewis, 10:06.43.

Fourth place

200: Lydia Ware. :25.82
3,000 steeplechase: Zoe Perkins, 12:23.34
4-by-400 relay: Hailee Lowe, Julianna Lewis, Acacia Barber, Kylee Odell, 4:20.44
Javelin: Courtney Ashline, 22.65 meters

Fifth place

10,000 run: Jennifer Reagan, 44:10.77
100: Lydia Ware, :12.85
3,000 steeplechase: Gianna Tribotte, 13:01.98