MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (April 24) – Sophomore Elin Rydqvist claimed the individual crown in the hammer throw on Thursday, as the University of Mount Olive women's track & field program ranks first in the team standings after competing on the opening day of the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships.

Following the competition of 2-of-21 events, the Trojans hold the top spot after tallying 30 points on the first day at the league championship. North Greenville sits second overall in the team standings while Converse rounded out the top three with 12 points.

In the hammer throw, Mount Olive featured five individuals in the top-eight scoring positions to capture 30 of the possible 39 points in the event. Rydqvist delivered a career-best toss of 56.63 meters to earn the individual crown, ranking 16th in NCAA Division II this season. Junior Kenisha Barnes placed second overall with a mark of 52.32 meters and freshman Isabelle Grena produced a season-best distance of 49.09 meters. Sophomore Peyton Bucher (47.04m) and senior Kaitlin Kenan (46.51m) each posted career-best marks after finishing five and sixth, respectively.

Freshman Futoria Harris registered a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter prelims with a time of 24.59 seconds. Fellow freshman Sanyiah Shields placed fifth after crossing the line in 24.85 seconds. The finals of the 200m are set for Saturday, April 26, at 1:10 p.m.

Mount Olive returns to action at the Conference Carolinas Championships on Friday, April 25, with events starting at 11:15 a.m.