May 6, 2025

Greyhounds Have 10 Garner Landmark Women's Track & Field All-Conference Honors; Rayne & Baumann Receive Major Awards

TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian University women’s outdoor track & field squad has had had ten student-athletes garner 15 All-Conference selections from the Landmark Conference for their performances at the 2025 Landmark Outdoor Championships last weekend hosted by Susquehanna University as the Greyhounds won their 15th Landmark Conference Outdoor title and first since 2022.

TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian University women's outdoor track & field squad has had had ten student-athletes garner 15 All-Conference selections from the Landmark Conference for their performances at the 2025 Landmark Outdoor Championships last weekend hosted by Susquehanna University as the Greyhounds won their 15th Landmark Conference Outdoor title and first since 2022.

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 Outdoor Coaching Staff of the Year. It marks the ninth time that Baumann and his staff have won the honor.

"Jesse and his staff continue to uphold the standard of excellence within the track and field program here at Moravian," said Director of Athletics Mary Beth Spirk. "He adds another Coaching Staff of the Year accolade with the women's program for the spring season. Jesse and his staff work tirelessly all year, and this recognition is well deserved. Congratulations to this outstanding staff."

The Greyhounds had two student-athletes garner All-Conference First Team accolades with junior Margie Rayne winning the discus, hammer throw and shot put while being honored as the Landmark Conference Women's Field Performer of the Year after scoring 30 points this past weekend. Rayne's winning mark in the discus set both the Moravian and Landmark Conference records.

"Margie had the meet of her life this weekend," exclaimed Throwing Coach Jonathan D'Ottavio. "She was her constant steady self in the shot put but she showed up in a big way during the discus and hammer. To come in with a mark that didn't even have her scoring, but to throw a new personal best and winning throw in the hammer was a great way to start her weekend. Then to end it with a throw in discus that topped the previous school record of Christina Scherwin was awesome! There aren't too many people that can say they have broken an Olympian's record, but Margie is now in that small company. We knew Margie would have a great weekend but to earn Field Athlete of the Year, she went above and beyond all expectations. She proved she's the best thrower in the Landmark this past weekend."

Also earning First Team honors was junior Tara Smurla for winning the 10,000-meter run.

Moravian had a pair of Second Team honorees for finishing as the runner-up in their events including Smurla in the 5,000-meter run and freshman Jessica Heydt in the hammer throw.

The Blue & Grey garnered nine Honorable Mention accolades led by the 4x100-meter relay squad of senior Abby Giamoni, junior Shai Knight and freshman Katelyn Davis and Emma Shafnisky. Giamoni was also third in the 400-meter dash while Shafnisky took third in the 100-meter hurdles. The Hounds other Honorable Mention selections were freshman Becca Caird in the javelin, senior Caillie Fish in the hammer throw and senior Amber Poniktera in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.