Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (5/23/2023) – Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Dylan Bennett, an impressive Saturday from junior Natalie O'Neill (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored half of the Griffins' 26 points in a fifth-place finish (5^th of 10, 26 points) at the 2023 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Track and Field Championship Meet (May 5 & 6). During the course of the season, O'Neill's successes on the track were complimented by strong seasons from sophomore Jenna Clarency (Philadelphia, Pa.) and senior Meghan LoStracco (Chalfont, Pa.).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University began their indoor season on Friday, December 9, with a trip to Ursinus College for the Bow Tie Invitational. There, senior Keely Greene (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the way with Top-10 finishes in the 5,000-Meter (9^th, 22:13.01). Top-20 finishes were enjoyed in the Mile (17^th, 6:14.42) by senior Alicia Bennett (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Clarency in the 200-Meter (17^th, 29.76).
 
A little over a month later (Jan. 21), the Griffins returned to Ursinus College for the Collegeville Classic Invitational. LoStracco and Clarency respectively provided Top-15 finishes in the 60-Meter (15^th, 9.08) and Weight Throw (14^th, 10.73). Gwynedd Mercy University made their final appearance at Ursinus College on Saturday, February 4 for the Frank Colden Invitational. Clarency finished 27^th in the 60-Meter (9.05) and Bennett ran for a personal record in the Mile with a time of 6:03.20 (25^th).
 
In between a late-January trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania saw a pair of Top-5 finishes from freshman Mikayla Brennan (Bensalem, Pa.) Muhlenberg Indoor Invitational; 55-Meter (4^th, 9.40) and 200-Meter (7^th, 35.16). LoStracco (3^rd, 7.39, PR) and Breanna Hare (Warminster, Pa.) (4^th, 6.5) finished among the Top-5 in the Shot Put with the former's distance standing as a personal record.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University made their first of two February appearances at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Friday, February 10, as they took part in the Fasttrack National Invitational. Brennan recorded her personal record in the 600-Meter finishing 47^th with a time of 10.01. Two weeks later (Feb. 24), personal records were achieved by Brennan in the 200-Meter (31^st, 33.85), Bennett in the Mile (14^th, 6.01.60) and Hare in the Shot Put (16^th, 7.42).

To start the outdoor season, Gwynedd Mercy University returned to Ursinus College for the Bears' Outdoor Invitational (Mar. 25). LoStracco offered a personal record in the Hammer (7^th, 33.16), while additional Top-20 finished were provided by Bennett's 1,500-Meter finish (19^th, 5:58.06) and Clarency's 200-Meter rush (16^th, 29.70).
 
One week later (Apr. 1), the Griffins returned to Muhlenberg College for the Mules' Outdoor Invitational. Hare had a big event, breaking multiple personal records with her efforts in the Discus (29^th, 22.62) and Hammer (25^th, 19.35). LoStracco scored a Top-20 finish in the Hammer (19^th, 33.16) and broke her personal record in the Discus (31^st, 21.29) as well.
 
On Friday, April 21, Gwynedd Mercy University traveled to Widener University for the Pride's  invitational. Again, multiple Griffins came away from the event with personal records including Clarency in the 100-Meter Hurdle (17^th, 19.50, PR) and 200-Meter (40^th, 27.82, PR), and Brennan in the 200-Meter (71^st, 32.88, PR) and 400-Meter (52^nd, 1:17.73, PR).
 
In their final competition before the AEC Women's Track and Field Championship Meet, multiple Griffins kicked it into another gear for the Elizabethtown College's Blue Jay Tune Up (Apr. 28 and 29). Gwynedd Mercy University took eighth place (8^th of 14, 21 points) thanks to scoring performances from O'Neill, Clarency, and LoStracco. O'Neill totaled nine points with a fourth-place finish in the 100-Meter Hurdles (4^th, 19.17, 5 points) and a fifth-place finish in the 400-Meter Hurdles (5^th, 1:17.60, 4 points). Clarency totaled eight points between her performances in the 100-Meter Hurdles (5^th, 21.15, 4 points) and 200-Meter (5^th, 28.59, 4 points). And LoStracco scored four points in the Hammer with her personal record throw of 33.54 (5^th) meters.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University's fifth-place finish (5^th of 10, 26 points) at the 2023 AEC Women's Track and Field Championships was fueled by O'Neill's Saturday successes. She scored five points in the High Jump (T3^rd, 1.34), and four points in both the 100-Meter Hurdles (4^th, 18.90) and 400-Meter Hurdles (4^th, 1:16.78). Additional scoring performances were provided by Clarency – in the 100-Meter Hurdles (5^th, 19.25, 2 points) and 200-Meter Hurdles (3^rd, 26.52, 6 points) – and LoStracco (4^th, 31:01, 4 points) and Hare (6^th, 25.87, 1 point) in the Hammer.