The Hillsdale College women’s track team took second at the Lee Flames Invitational finishing with a total of 95 points on April 8th and 9th. The team competed against approximately 70 other teams and won the 4×400 meter relay, shot put, and javelin throwing events and placing in six events.
In the 800 meter run, sophomore Gwynne Riley took fifth with a time of 2:13.83 minutes, a personal best. In the 100 meter hurdles sophomore Louisa Klaeserner took fourth with a time of 15.04 seconds. Following the 100 meter hurdles, sophomores Shura Ermakov and Judith Allison teamed up to take third and fourth in the 400 meter hurdles. Ermakov finished third with a time of 1:04.95 minutes and Allison in fourth with 1:05.28 minutes.
In the 4×400 meter relay both of the Charger’s teams placed first and fourth. In first, team A consisted of sophomores Dakota Stamm and Shura Ermakov and juniors Alynna O’Leary and Zalonya Eby. The team finished with a time of 3:46.81 minutes, the fastest time in the G-MAC this year and the 10th fastest in DII. Team B took fourth and consisted of Allison, sophomores Isabella Guitierrez and Josee Behling, and freshman Reese Dragovich. The team finished with a time of 4:00.15 minutes.
Ebay took seventh in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.25, with Stamm finishing in 13th with a personal best of 25.52. Ebay won G-MAC player of the week, her first in her career. Her time of 25.25 was the second-fastest outdoor time in the G-MAC in the 200 meter dash this year.
The Chargers also showed up well in the field, with freshman Morgan Iverson taking fifth in pole vault, hitting a height of 3.45 meters.
In the triple jump, sophomore Emily Gerdin took second jumping a distance of 5.28 meters. Gerdin said that competing in the harsh weather conditions was difficult but despite this, her performance was better than expected.
“Before my event I was feeling very tired and not as confident. The weather was just awful with wind, rain, and snow so I didn’t think I would perform that well. However, after I competed I was extremely happy with my performance,” Gerdin said.
Gerdin said she is looking to PR for triple jump at the next meet.
“I have been extremely close so I really want to connect a jump and put it all together,” Gerdin said.
In shot put, junior Nikita Maines continued her streak of record-breaking performances, taking first and throwing a distance of 15.43 meters. Maines broke her own school record, which she set last week with a throw of 14.99 meters. Her throw this week was the first time she’s thrown over 50 feet at Hillsdale. Maines was followed by sophomore Katie Sayles in fourth, throwing a distance of 12.05 meters.
Also continuing her streak from last week, sophomore Eden Little took first in the javelin throwing event throwing a distance of 42.64 meters, the best mark of her season and the 19th best mark in DII this season.
Little said that before every event she is always excited and she kept up that energy during the meet this past weekend.
“After my event I was still excited because I could tell that I still have more in the tank when it comes to javelin and all of my hard work is going to pay off in a week or two,” Little said.
Little said she was content with her performance at the meet but felt she could do even better.
“I know I can throw a lot farther and move even further up in the NCAA rankings,” Little said.
Little also said she is hoping to continue moving up in the rankings and make it to nationals.
“My biggest goal is to be an All-American in javelin at nationals. Each meet my goal is to move up the divisional list each time and to throw farther and farther,” Little said.
Little also said that her biggest struggle has been the wait to be in the outdoor season so she could start her event, which doesn’t occur during the indoor track and field season.
“For javelin athletes, we always have to wait till after indoor season to get to throw our event but maybe it’s the waiting that makes throwing a javelin so much sweeter,” Little said.
Little was followed by sophomore Peyton Panka in third throwing a distance of 39.86 meters.
In the hammer throw, sophomores dominated the event taking second through fifth. Katie Sayles took second, reaching a distance of 45.69 meters. Following Sayles, Juliet Bernard took third with a distance of 44.37 meters. In fourth was Katie Weldy with a distance of 43.62 meters and Little in fifth with 42.77.
The Chargers are splitting their squad this weekend, with some athletes going to California to compete in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invite, and the Long Beach Invite, with other athletes going to the Tiffin Carnival in Ohio.