13 Greyhounds Garner Landmark Women’s Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Honors; Moravian Named Coaching Staff of the Year
TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian University women’s indoor track & field team had a total of 13 student-athletes honored by the Landmark Conference for their performances at the 2025 Landmark Indoor Championships last weekend at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland.
TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian University women's indoor track & field team had a total of 13 student-athletes honored by the Landmark Conference for their performances at the 2025 Landmark Indoor Championships last weekend at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland.
The Hounds, who won their 13th Landmark Conference Indoor title and first since 2020, had 13 student-athletes earn 18 All-Conference honors selections. Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann and his assistants - Jonathan D'Ottavio (throws), Molly Sear (jumps), Beth Ann Davies (pole vault), Ryan Harper (throws), Sean McFarland (sprints), David Scheck (hurdles) - were named the 2025 Landmark Conference Women's Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year. It marks the eighth time that Baumann and his staff have won the honor.
"Congratulations to Jesse and his staff on garnering another Coaching Staff of the Year honor," commented Director of Athletics & Recreation Mary Beth Spirk. "This is a special recognition for this Landmark Indoor season with the women. Jesse and his staff, along with their student athletes, have worked hard to get back on top of the Landmark Conference. It is not easy to win championships in the Landmark Track and Field world, yet they found a way through determination and focus to garner another championship. We are proud of Jesse and his staff and of course their student athletes."
The Greyhounds had four student-athletes garner five All-Conference First Team accolades for winning conference titles as junior Tara Smurla took first in both the 3,000-meter and the 5,000-meter runs, junior Ali Haefele captured the high jump title, junior Margie Rayne placed first in the shot put and junior Karalyn Vashey won the 20-pound weight throw.
Moravian had two Second Team honorees for finishing as the runner-up in their events including Rayne in the 20-pound weight throw and senior Abby Giamoni in the 400-meter dash.
The Hounds had nine student-athletes garner Honorable Mention selections including Giamoni in the 200-meter dash and in the 4x400-meter relay along with junior Shai Knight, sophomore Rachele Grigoli and freshman Emerson Beamer. Beamer also earned Honorable Mention with seniors Rachael Goodman, Rylie Murphy and Amber Poniktera in the Distance Medley Relay while senior Caillie Fish earned Honorable Mention in the 20-pound weight throw and freshman Emma Shafnisky garnered the honor in the 60-meter hurdles.
"We thought we have the potential to be able to win, but you still have to perform on the day," noted Baumann. "The highlight of the meet was definitely our throwers who seemingly set a new school record or PR with every single throw. On top of that, Tara Smurla had a great day in the distances. Our pole vaulters had a breakthrough day. Ali Haefele had an incredible high jump, and Emma Shafnisky had a big breakthrough in the hurdles to highlight some of the many incredible performances on the day. We are extremely proud of this and happy for the program, our alums, but mostly our student-athletes. It was a Great Day to be a Hound."
For the entire 2025 Landmark All-Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field list, visit https://landmarkconference.org/news/2025/2/21/03052025-indoor-wtrack-all-conference.aspx.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 at the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships being hosted by Ithaca (N.Y.) College.
