EASTON, Pa. - Junior Adriana Hooks highlighted day one of the Patriot League Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the American University track & field team, earning her third career podium finish on the track.
Hooks opened the two-day meet on Friday morning with a third-place finish in the 10,000-meter run. In only her third career appearance in the event, Hooks battled with the leaders for the majority of the race until a big move by Bucknell's Colleen Buckley spread the front pack with just under 800m to go. Hooks' final time of 36:14.23 was enough for her third career podium finish in track & field after she placed third in the 3,000m and 5,000m runs at the 2016 indoor and outdoor championships, respectively.
Freshman Shelbi Wuss joined Hooks in the field for her 10,000m debut, crossing in 17th overall with the ninth-fastest time in program history (39:16.50).
On the men's side, junior Trevor Patton was the day's lone individual competitor for the Eagles, placing 12th in the long jump (6.77m / 22-2.50).
In the women's 4x800m relay, the squad of seniors Jude Mabone and Brianna Belo, and sophomores Arianna Lopez and Kaitlyn McTernan, placed sixth overall in 9:11.85, just missing their season's best from the Penn Relays by two seconds.
The men's 4x800m closed out the day with senior Alaeldin Tirba, juniors Ben Doiron, and Matthew Rainey, and freshman Chris Tibbetts narrowly missing a podium spot with a fourth-place overall crossing (7:40.08).
The Eagles will return to Lafayette's Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex on Saturday for the second and final day of Patriot League competition. Events will begin at noon with the women's 3,000m steeplechase and continue until 5 p.m. when the men's 5,000m run will close out events for AU.
#AUTF RESULTS - FRIDAY
Long Jump, Men - 12. Trevor Patton, 6.77m (22-2.50)
10,000m Run, Women - 3. Adriana Hooks, 36:14.23 / 17. Shelbi Wuss, 39:16.50 #9
4x800m Relay, Women - 6. (Mabone, Lopez, McTernan, Belo), 9:11.85
4x800m Relay, Men - 4. (Tirba, Tibbetts, Doiron, Rainey), 7:40.08
#AUTF EVENTS SCHEDULE - SATURDAY
12:00 p.m. - 3000m Steeplechase, Women (Nadia Stratton)
12:30 p.m. - 3000m Steeplechase, Men (Max Lustig)
1:20 p.m. - 1500m Run, Women (Arianna Lopez / Jude Mabone)
1:35 p.m. - 1500m Run, Men (Matthew Rainey)
2:30 p.m. - 400m Dash, Men (Trevor Patton)
3:10 p.m. - 800m Run, Women (Brianna Belo / Emily Houghton / Kaitlyn McTernan)
3:25 p.m. - 800m Run, Men (Faolan Coogan Pluck / Liam Purdy / Chris Tibbetts)
4:35 p.m. - 5000m Run, Women (Adriana Hooks / Nadia Stratton / Shelbi Wuss)
4:55 p.m. - 5000m Run, Men (Ben Doiron / Max Lustig / Alaeldin Tirba)
For the latest on American Track & Field, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter @AU_TrackXC.
