Hillsdale’s women track and field team traveled to Ashland University to compete in the Jud Logan Light Giver Invitational over the weekend. 

Many of Hillsdale’s rivals competed at the invitational. Ashland, Findlay, Walsh University, Tiffin University, and Grand Valley State University were present which allowed for the chargers to prepare for the atmosphere for the upcoming conference championships at the end of February. 

“It allows us to get a  feel for the facility beforehand before championship season. It does give us a picture of what to prepare for,” junior all-American Reese Dragovich said. 

As the team heads into the champion season, they are hopeful for the increase in their provisional rankings, she said.

“Provisional rankings come out instantly and are constantly updated. We are happy with how it went but definitely want to improve our provisional ranking,” Dragovich said.

The invitational was a non-conference meet, but showcased the team’s 400 meter relay team.

The rankings for the NCAA qualifying list were posted to the National Track and Field Ranking and Results website the following day, leaving Hillsdale ranked 18th provisionally, senior all-American Shura Ermakov said.

“We are running the 4×400 again at this upcoming meet and hoping to move ourselves up in the national rankings,” Ermakov said. 

The 4×400 team made up of senior and 2023 all American Josee Hackman, Ermakov, Dragovich, and sophomore Francesca Federici placed second overall at the invitational over the weekend. 

The focus of the upcoming weeks leading into conference championships is improving the provisional standings in the national rankings, especially with the 4×400. 

“Our focus is going to be working on the 4×400 as we go into this upcoming weekend when we head to Grand Valley,” Hackman said. 

The invitational communicated the success of the team thus far as the chargers identified their races for the season. 

“It’s a matter of exposure,” Hackman said. “It’s trying people out in different events and see who’s going to perform well.”

The importance of the invitational helped to guide girls through the fatigue of running many events at each meet. 

“This showcase helped me practice doing several events in two days, and gave me an idea of how to race through some fatigue, like I will at conference championships,” Ermakov said. 

The invitational allowed for the team to prepare for the championship in many ways and helped to prioritize the team element within the individual races. 

“I reminded the team last week that there is nothing that limits us and we are capable of everything we set our minds to,” Hackman said. 

As they head into the upcoming weekend, their goals include improving their provisional rankings and continue preparing for conference championships.

“The past weekend was incredible to see the team flourish and it is so unifying,” she said.