Indoor and cross seasons clearly weren't flukes.
Using impressive depth and outstanding performances in the running events, the Hillsdale College women's track team completed a sweep of championships Saturday afternoon, winning the 2018 Great Midwest Athletic Confernece Outdoor Track & Field championship, held on its home track inside Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium.
Coupled with the program's title victory during indoor season in February and cross country season in October, the Charger women's program swept all three track and cross country conference titles in its first year in the G-MAC, winning all three events by wide margins. Those are three of eight total G-MAC championships won by Hillsdale College athletic programs in 2017-18.
The road to another trophy wasn't an easy one for Hillsdale. Coming into Saturday's championship day, the Chargers trailed Walsh by 15.5 points, a margin that grew during the completion of some of Saturday's field events. But once the action heated up on the track, so rose Hillsdale's point totals.
One of the turning points appeared to be the hurdle events, where a pair of Charger freshman stepped up big-time to score important points for Hillsdale. Carmen Botha took third in the 100 hurdles, then won the 400 hurdles, setting a new G-MAC record in the latter event with a time of 1:02.48.
Teammate Calli Townsend scored in the 100 hurdles and was runner-up to Botha in the 400 hurdles, while breaking the old G-MAC record in that event as well, finishing in 1:03.36.
Another Charger freshman made a huge impact across the running events. Zalonya Eby was named the 2018 G-MAC Women's Freshman of the Meet with a first in the 200 (24.24) and a third in the 100 (12.1). Her 200 time also shattered an old G-MAC record and was an NCAA provo time.
In all, members of the women's track team broke 10 pre-existing G-MAC records during this year's championships. Quite possibly a record for breaking records.
Sophomore Abbie Porter repeated her indoor championship performance by winning the 800 meter run in 2:10.45, also an NCAA provo mark.
Senior Chloe Ohlgren solidified her place as one of the best jumpers in Hillsdale history by pocketing two G-MAC championships. She won the long jump with a mark of 5.51 meters, and took first in the triple jump at 11.63 meters, also a new conference record.
The first outdoor G-MAC title was secured by celebrated senior Hannah McIntyre, who won the 10,000 meter run Thursday night with a conference-record time of 36:50.18. Runner-up and teammate Arena Lewis also broke the former conference record, taking second with a time of 37:43.76.
More valuable points were scored by junior Allysen Eads, who took second in the 3000 meter steeplechase (10:44.63) and fourth in the 1500. Teammate Amanda Reagle ran extremely well in the 1500, taking third with a time of 4:40.05.
Another example of Hillsdale's amazing depth came in the form of senior Ashlee Moran, who grabbed a pair of third-place finishes in the 200 (24.86) and the 400 (56.11). It's these kind of performances that help keep a charging team's momentum going and keep the points adding up as it closes in on a championship.
Pole vaulting teammates Alexandra Whitford and Kathryn Bassett finished second and third, respectively, with Whitford clearing 3.67 meters.
Senior captain Rachael Tolsma added to her celebrated career by winning the hammer throw with a mark of 54.61 meters, and taking third in the shot put at 14.14 meters. Both of those tosses are good for NCAA provo status.