The Hillsdale College women's track team returned from break ready to compete. The Chargers traveled to the University of Findlay for their second indoor meet of the season.
Sophomore Nikita Maines led the way for the team in shot put with an NCAA Division II provisional mark. She threw for 13.97 meters to take on fourth in a completive heat. Fellow sophomore Michaela Burkhauser took sixth with a throw of 12.73 meters and freshman Katie Weldy came in eighth with a mark of 12.53 meters.
The throws squad did well in the weight throw event as well, as Maines finished seventh with a mark of 15 meters exactly. Burkhauser was right behind in eighth in 14.80 and Weldy finished 15th, tossing 12.93 meters.
The Chargers had a nice showing in the jumps as well. Freshman Emily Gerdin and senior softball-player-turned-jumper Carlin MacDonald-Gannon competed in both the long and triple jump. Gerdin finished sixth in long jump with a mark of 5.07 meters and MacDonald-Gannon took eighth with 4.89 meters. The two took to the triple jump afterward, where they finished 1-2. Gerdin leaped 10.86 meters and MacDonald-Gannon jumped for 9.86 meters.
Lone high jumper sophomore Alexie Day tied for third in her event with a jump of 1.58 meters. And senior pole vaulter Kathryn Bassette cleared 3.28 meters to take fifth, which is her best for the season so far.
On the track, the Chargers had a nice showing in five of today's events.
In the 60 meter hurdles, freshman Jillian Roney qualified for the finals to take sixth overall with a time of 9.47 seconds. And junior Kajsa Johansson finished second in the 60 meter dash. She was just .03 seconds off the NCAA Division II provisional mark, with a time of 7.71 seconds.
In the 200 meter dash, the Chargers took fourth, fifth, and sixth place. Freshman Dakota Stamm led the rush of blue with a time of 26.54. Right behind her was sophomore Alanna O'Leary and Roney, who finished in 26.86 and 26.87, respectively.
A pair of distance runners, sophomore Amber Mango and freshman Natalie Martinson kicked off their seasons with nice performances in the mile. Mango finished in second overall with a time of 5:36.42, and Martinson finished right behind her in 5:40.24 to take third.
Rounding out the day was the Charger 4x4 relay team, made up of Stamm, O'Leary, freshman Judith Allison, and junior Carmen Botha. They finished in 4:02.36 to take second.
Tomorrow the Chargers will host the Charger Opener indoor meet for high school athletes. And on Friday, they'll travel to Youngstown State University for their third meet of the season.
WORDS: Calli Townsend
PHOTO: Kyle Niermann