The Hillsdale College women's track team has a new record holder.
Freshman Nikita Maines has made her mark early in the season, and in her career. Tonight she took first place in the shot put to earn a new personal best and NCAA Division II provisional mark of 14.05 meters. The previous record of 13.82 was set 27 years ago.
Maines' teammate freshman Michaela Burkhauser battled an ankle injury for the past several days but competed strong to take fourth in weight throw, throwing 14.31 meters.
The Chargers were also well represented in the mile as they took first through eighth place. Sophomore Maryssa Depies took the win in 5:06.58, followed right behind senior Ally Eads in 5:06.72.
Freshman Alexie Day took second in high jump, clearing 1.53 meters. Fellow jumper senior Kristin Freeman cleared 1.53 meters as well, taking fourth.
On the sprints side of the track, sophomores Carmen Botha and Calli Townsend took third and fourth, respectively, in the 60m hurdles. Botha finished in 9.34 and Townsend in 9.67.
Sophomore Zalonya Eby is back on the track and competing well. She took second in the 60m dash with a time of 8.04 seconds. And in the 400m dash, freshman Alanna O'Leary took second as well in 1:01.17. Sophomore Kajsa Johansson sped her way around the track to second place in the 200m dash. She finished in a time of 25.53 seconds.
In the 800m run, sophomore Abbie Porter ran a 2:21 to take second, just ahead of freshman Amber Mango who took third in 2:24.4.
Freshman Melanie Boehm, Eby, Porter and Townsend teamed up to take first in the 4-by-400m relay with a time of 4:06.04.
PHOTO: Camryn Olson
WORDS: Calli Townsend