DAYTON - University of Dayton track and field will officially open up the indoor season this weekend with two events. On Thursday, the Flyers will send five multi-event athletes to the University of Findlay to compete in the Pentathlon at the Oiler Open. Saturday, those five will be joined by 13 sprinters and jumpers at Wittenberg University for the Tiger Opener.

On Thursday, Seniors Raegan Ernst and Evelyn Albers, and Sophomores Mia Malito, Jameson Pillifant, and Sophia Goluba will compete in the pentathlon at Findlay.

Ernst hopes to carry the momentum of a strong junior season into this year. She placed seventh in the multi event at the A-10 Championships last season, where she set PRs in the high jump, shot put, and long jump. Albers returns to Findlay, hoping for a repeat performance after winning the pentathlon and setting four new lifetime PRs a year ago. Pillifant will make her debut in the world of multi-events on Thursday. As a freshman, she emerged as one of the Flyers' best hurdlers as she finished 11th in the 60m hurdles at the A-10 Championships in a personal best time of 8.89. In the outdoor season, the Westerville, Ohio native broke the school record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:00.87. Malito finished 11th in the pentathlon at the A-10 Championships as a freshman, setting personal bests in the shot put, 800m, and overall points. Goluba is competing in the pentathlon at Findlay for the second straight year. The Oiler Open was the Barrington, Illinois native's only competition in the pentathlon last year, but she recorded 11 total PRs on the season in sprinting and jumping events. 

On Saturday, 18 athletes will travel to the Steemer on the campus of Wittenberg University to compete in sprinting and jumping events.

The Flyers will send three teams to the line in both the 4x200m and 4x400m. School record holder and reigning A-10 runner-up in the 200m, Jadyn Haywood, looks to lead the 4x200 team of herself, Junior Sydney Workman, Freshman Simone Bessong, and Sophomore Charlotte Deines to a new school record in the event. The meet will also feature UD athletes in non-relay events as two compete in the high jump, five will throw in the shot put, two will toe the line in the 400m, and four freshman Bessong, Chloe Hamilton, Gianna Lane, and Autumn Price will make their collegiate debuts in the 60m. 

The pentathlon starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday. On Saturday, field events start at 11:30 a.m. with running events getting underway at 1 p.m.

For live results, click on the links above.

 For more information on the Oiler Open and the Tiger Open, click on the links above and follow the Flyers on Instagram @ud_xctf and on X @UDWomensTF_XC