A select group of Hillsdale College women's track and field athletes put on a show at the Doug Hansen Open on Friday night, hosted by Saginaw Valley State University.
Competing in a field that included athletes from multiple NCAA Division I schools, the Chargers won four events and had four athletes set provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA DII Indoor Championships in March.
Hillsdale put on a strong showing in the distance races. Juniors Gwynne Riley and Margaret Scheske became the first Charger women's athletes to set a provisional mark on the track in the 2022-23 Indoor season in the mile run, with Riley taking second in 4:56.34 and Scheske finishing in third in 4:56.77. Both marks are personal bests in the mile for the two athletes, and make them two of just seven runners across the countryto meet the provisional qualifying standard in the event so far.
Riley also won the 800m run for the Chargers, in 2:16.19, with teammate Reese Dragovich taking second in 2:16.22 and Scheske finishing fourth in a career-best time of 2:18.70 in the event.
In the throws, the Chargers also had a great day. Hillsdale swept the two four spots in the weight throw, led by Katie Sayles, who won the event with a season-best throw of 18.88 meters that not only meets the provisional qualifying standard but moves her into ninth in the nation to date in the event. Katie Weldy took second with a throw of 16.96 meters, Averi Parker was third with a throw of 16.64 meters, and Nikita Maines took fourth with a throw of 16.30 meters.
Maines also won the shot put for Hillsdale with a throw of 14.02 meters, surpassing the provisional qualifying standard, with Parker taking seocnd with a throw of 13.04 meters, and Sayles placing sixth with a throw of 12.67 meters.
The Chargers also got notable results in sprints and hurdles as well. Junior Dakota Stamm won the 400m dash in a time of 57.53, a season-best in the event, and also took fifth in the 200m dash in 25.88, behind teammate Shura Ermakov, who finished second in a career-best time of 25.31. Ermakov also took fifth in the 60m hurdles in a time of 9.14, just ahead of teammate Louisa Klaserner in seventh with a time of 9.25. Freshman Eleanor Minning also took fourth in the 60m dash in 7.91, and seventh in the 200m dash in 26.04.
Hillsdale returns home next Saturday for the annual Wide Track Classic for its next event.