When the Hillsdale Winter Classic got canceled, track and field coaches made a last-minute decision to take a smaller group of team members to compete at Saginaw Valley State University on Jan. 20. The team took home a victory, winning four events and setting four provisional qualifying marks.

“We had to amend what we were going to do,” head coach R.P. White said. 

Junior Gwynne Riley said the change of plans didn’t stop her from excelling in her event. She took first in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:16, and second in the one mile run with a time of 4:56.

“I knew I was going to be racing the mile and the 800, so it didn’t matter to me where I did it,” Riley said. “If anything, the change was positive as there was better competition at SVSU.”

Freshman Lucy Minning said SVSU’s track helped her to perform better.

“They have a really good track,” Minning said. “It’s new and it’s 300 meters. That makes a very big difference, especially in the 200 meter. The track was really hard, so it was good for sprinters.”

Minning said she was proud of both her team’s and her individual performance.

“I maintained my usual PR range in the 60 and I set a PR in the 200,” Minning said. “We’re working our way up to where we’re supposed to be in about a month for conference.”

Several other women also performed well despite the schedule change. Junior Dakota Stamm took first in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.53. Senior Nikita Maines took first in the shot put event, reaching 14.02 meters. Junior Katie Sayles placed first in the weight throw event with a score of 18.88 meters. 

“The meet felt like it went really well for this point in the season,” Riley said. “I know Meg Scheske and I were happy with hitting 4:56 in the mile, and then to double back and run a good 800 time was something for us to be very excited about.”

Riley said if she could have changed one thing about her performance, she would have familiarized herself with her race schedule. 

“I wish I had better prepared for the meet. I didn’t know the race schedule beforehand, so I had to do my warm up earlier than I expected.”

The team now prepares to host the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic this upcoming weekend on Jan. 28.

“Meg and I will be taking this weekend off from racing, but I know that Liz Wamsley and some of the other girls are racing this weekend and looking forward to running times that would put them in the fast heat at conference,” Riley said. 

Minning said that since the upcoming meet is a home meet, her teammates’ relatives will likely come to support the team.

“It’s nice to be home and not have to travel,” she said. “I think we’re starting to get pretty good after a long break.”