MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Mount Holyoke College track & field team opened its 2016 outdoor season on Saturday, competing at the non-team scoring Wesleyan Spring Classic. It was a solid opening effort for the Lyons, who were paced by a sixth-place finish by senior Elizabeth DeLeon in the 3,000-meter run.

DeLeon (Boise, Idaho/Timberline) was strong in the grueling event, crossing the line with a time of 10:43.45. Sophomore Mia Barnes (Thornville, Ohio/Monteverde Friends School) also had a solid finish, placing 13th overall with a time of 11:20.38.

Sophomore Shante Henderson (New York, N.Y./Brooklyn Theatre Arts School) earned a ninth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, powering her way across the line in a time of 17.88. She also finished 40th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 30.08.

First year Destiny Williams (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee High School) also competed in the 200, placing 39th overall with a time of 29.83, while classmate Zahkeyah Allen (Philadelphia, Pa./Freire Charter School) and junior Kristyn Carter (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Mercy) were both 32nd overall in the 100-meter dash with a time of 14.52.

Junior Emma Tolerton (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) finished 21st in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:45.37, while in the 400-meter event, first year Mara White was 22nd with a mark of 1:09.79.

In the field events, first year Donari Yahzid (Atlanta, Ga.) placed seventh in the long jump with a distance of 4.79 meters (15' 8.75"), while also finishing 16th in the javelin with a throw of 24.38m (80' 0").

Mount Holyoke is back in action next Saturday when it travels to Fitchburg State to compete in the Jim Sheehan Memorial Invitational.