When the Hillsdale College Chargers traveled to Allendale, Michigan, last weekend for the GVSU Big Meet, they knew they faced their stiffest test of the year. While Hillsdale finished 17th in team points against powerhouses like Grand Valley State University and Miami University of Ohio, the Chargers finished as the top team in the G-MAC at the meet, an encouraging sign as the team ramps up for the G-MAC Indoor Championships.
On Friday, senior Ally Eads blew away her previous personal record in the one mile run, finishing in four minutes and 52 seconds. Not only did Eads comfortably beat the Division II provisional mark, she also registered the fastest time in the G-MAC this season.
Sophomore Abbie Porter also had a career performance in the 800 meter run. Porter finished seventh with a personal-best time of 2:11.23, beating the provisional mark by three seconds. This time is the third best 800 meter time in the G-MAC this season, and is only three seconds off the automatic qualifying time for the national meet.
After missing the previous meet due to injury, sophomore sprinter Kajsa Johansson competed in the 200 meter dash, finishing in 25.44 seconds. As Hillsdale looks forward to the upcoming conference championship meet, Johansson will be a key contributor on the track. Johansson holds the fastest 60 meter dash time in the G-MAC this season, and the second fastest time in the 200 meter dash.
Freshman Nikita Maines turned in another solid performance in the shot put, competing in the event on both Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Maines threw 14.04 meters, just five centimeters off last week’s personal best, and finished fourth. Maines also finished fourth in the event on Saturday with a throw of 13.69 meters.
In Saturday’s open competition, senior Paige VanderWall had a statement performance in the high jump. VanderWall, a two-time All American volleyball player, made her collegiate debut in the event. She cleared a height of 1.64 meters to finish fifth in the event and a mere three centimeters off the provisional mark of 1.67 meters.
The Chargers are back in action at home in the Biermann Athletic Center on Saturday for the Hillsdale Tune Up. This meet will be their last competition before the G-MAC Indoor Championships at the University of Findlay the following weekend.
