The goal of the Hillsdale College track and field team's annual Indoor Tune-Up meet is to give its athletes one final chance to fine-tune before the G-MAC Championships next weekend.
If this year's edition is any indication, at the very least, the Chargers' women's weight throw crew is ready.
Not one but two Hillsdale College throwers shattered the previous weight throw record of 19.08 meters set by Dana Newell in 2017, and also posted two of the 10 best throws at the NCAA Division II level this season in the process.
Junior Nikita Maines blew past her previous career best mark of 18.99 meters with a throw of 19.64 meters on her first attempt, moving her up to the seventh best mark in the country at the NCAA Division II level.
But she was edged out for the title on Saturday by freshman teammate Katie Sayles, who set a personal best by nearly two meters with a throw of 20.07 meters, the second best mark in NCAA Division II this season and nearly a full foot ahead of the record set by Newell, an All-American during her time at Hillsdale.
Freshman Averi Parker finished third and nearly gave the Chargers another thrower with a provisional qualifying mark, throwing 17.03 meters, as Hillsdale took the top seven places in the event at Saturday's meet.
Maines and Parker also went 1-2 for the Chargers in the shot put, with Maines throwing near her personal best with a mark of 15.10 meters to win, and Parker throwing 14.17 meters to take runner-up honors.
Hillsdale's strength in the throws was part of a larger day of success in the field events for the Chargers. Freshman Reagan Dahlquist won the high jump by matching her previous provisional qualifying clearance of 1.67 meters, with sophomore Alexie Day in second at 1.63 meters, sophomore Emily Gerdin won the triple jump with a mark of 11.11 meters and teammate Grace Chen took second with a mark of 10 meters even, and freshmen Morgan Iverson and Katie Clifford took second (3.66 meters) and third (3.51 meters), respectively.
On the track, Hillsdale also got a new provisional qualifying mark from freshman Reese Dragovich, who finished in 2:16.05 to win the event and sneak just under the standard for the first individual provo time of her career. Freshman teammate Nicole Marshall took runner-up in 2:18.86 as well.
Also winning events on the track for the Chargers were junior Zalonya Eby, who took first in the 60 meter dash in 7.93, with teammate Shura Ermakov close behind in second in 8.03, and freshman Isabella Gutierrez, who won the 200 meter dash in 25.97 with Allison Nimtz taking third in 28.05 for Hillsdale.
Louisa Klaserner won the 60 meter hurdles as well for Hillsdale, in 9.08, and teammate Grace Gottwalt took second in 9.36 for the Chargers, who scored 138 points to win the meet over Adrian and Olivet.
The Chargers travel to Findlay, Ohio next weekend for the G-MAC Championships, taking place on Friday and Saturday. Hillsdale is the two-time defending champions and have won three of the last four titles, but will face stiff competition from both two-time runner-up Tiffin and a resurgent Findlay squad.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan