Hillsdale College women’s track and field team put together a solid performance last Friday at Grand Valley State University’s Bill Clinger Classic, winning eight events, four NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks, and a new school shot put record. The Chargers are now ranked 10th in NCAA Division II.
Junior Nikita Maines threw 14.54 meters in the shot put, breaking her 2019 school record of 14.53 meters. She also took first in the weight throw and threw 17.36 meters, earning provisional marks in both events.
“It was really exciting to see that and know that I had more in the tank that I could have put out,” Maines said. “I was really happy about that.”
Maines said her success at the meet made her more confident in what she can do.
“You could say it makes me more hungry, as in, I want to do better,” Maines said. “I’ve been taking that into practices, my mentality, the way that I eat, I sleep. I’m taking things very seriously right now, and it’s because I want to be great and seeing that I know I can do a lot more.”
Senior Kajsa Johansson earned the Chargers’ third provisional mark when she took first in the 200 meter at 24.75 seconds. Senior Zalonya Eby followed in second at 26.15 seconds, and sophomore Allison Nimtz came in third at 26.60 seconds.
Senior Calli Townsend won the 800 meter run in 2:15.78, and sophomore Kaitlyn Rust took second at 2:17.02. Both times were new personal records for the runners.
Hillsdale runners dominated the 3000 meter race, with senior Maryssa Depies claiming the fourth provisional mark in first place at 9:46.28. Junior Sophia Maeda took second at 10:06.83, and senior Christina Sawyer came in third at 10:10.64. Junior Claire McNally, freshman Elizabeth Wamsley, sophomore Meg Scheske, and senior Lauren Peterson finished in fourth through eighth place.
Hillsdale swept the 400 meter event as well, claiming first through sixth place. Freshman Shura Ermakov led the race at 57.54 seconds, trailed by sophomore Dakota Stamm at 57.79 seconds and junior Alanna O’Leary at 58.57. Freshman Josee Behling and sophomores Judith Allison and Allie Eriksen filled the next three spots.
O’Leary, Stamm, Behling, and Ermakov ran 4:01.88 in the 4x400m relay and took first place.
“I think we’ve done a really good job so far,” said head coach Andrew Towne. “This is certainly a really different year, so it’s tricky to evaluate certain things and where we stand.”
On the men’s side of the meet, freshman Jamahl Burke, sophomore Benu Meintjes, and freshman Sean Fagan finished in the top three in the 400 meter race at 49.05, 49.50, and 49.77 seconds, respectively. Senior Adam Wade joined Fagan, Meintjes, and Burke in taking first in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:17.98.
“Our focal point any week, but especially this week, is going to be just continuing to focus on ourselves, trying to make sure that we’re doing everything that we need to do,” Towne said. “Not necessarily comparing ourselves to anyone else, just to ourselves, because I think at an individual’s core, they know whether they’re giving their best or not.”
Other notable performances included freshman Micah Vanderkooi’s first place in the mile, finishing in 4:16.11. Senior Mark Miller finished just behind him in 4:17.98.
Junior Ben Raffin won first in pole vault with a mark of 5.00 meters, a new personal best and an NCAA provisional mark.
On Tuesday, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference named Vanderkooi and Johansson as the Male and Female Track Athletes of the Week because of their standout performances.
“I’m just so grateful to get to compete this year after losing a whole national championship season and an outdoor season,” Johannson said. “Our team is looking great for this time of year and working really well together, so I’m super excited for what’s to come.”
The Chargers’ next event, the annual Wide Track Classic, will be at home on Feb. 5.
