The Hillsdale College women's track and field team continued its strong return to outdoor track with a solid performance at its first home outdoor invitational in two years on Saturday.
For the Chargers, two freshman earning their first-ever provisional qualifying marks was the highlight of the 2021 Hillsdale Invitational.
In her first collegiate 3000 meter steeplechase, Margaret Scheske broke the 11 minute barrier, winning in 10:59.30 to become just the fifth woman in Division II so far this season to set a provisional qualifying mark in the event.
She was joined by teammate Eden Little in the javelin. Little threw a career-best 42.24 meters to take second in the event and earn the first Division II provisional mark of her career in just her third collegiate competition. Her mark is currently 25th in the nation.
The Chargers captured five other event titles on the day to go with those two provisional marks. Freshman Dakota Stamm won the 400m dash in a personal best time of 56.34, with teammate Zalonya Eby taking runner-up honors in the event in 59.51. Stamm also set a personal best in the 200m dash, taking second in 25.29, with teammate Alanna O'Leary in third with a personal best time of her own (25.42).
Junior Calli Townsend led a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 400m hurdles for the Chargers, winning in a time of 1:03.16, with freshman Shura Ermakov in second (1:03.81), freshman Judith Allison in third (1:04.04) and freshman Isabella Gutierrez in fourth (1:05.39). Ermakov also took second in the 100 hurdles in a personal-best time of 15.09, and Allison was close behind in third in a personal best time of 15.15 as well.
The 5,000m run also was a strong race for Hillsdale, which took first, third, fourth and fifth place. Sophomore Maryssa Depies led the way, winning in 17:42.78, and junior Christina Sawyer took third in 18:07.03 as well.
Junior Megan Poole won the 1,500m run in 4:54.21 as well for the Chargers, and freshman Vera Thompson took runner-up behind her in 4:59.30.
The Chargers won the 4x100m relay title with a team of Jillian Roney, Kajsa Johansson, O'Leary and Eby in 47.19, and Hillsdale's 4x400m rela team of Josee Behling, O'Leary, Allie Eriksen and Townsend took second in 3:59.16 as well.
In the field, freshman Peyton Panka was third behind Little in the javelin, throwing 36.46 meters, Nikita Maines took third in the shot put in 13.61 meters, and Emily Gerdin took third in the triple jump in 13.82 meters.
Hillsdale will split its squad this upcoming weekend, looking to build off of strong performances this past Saturday. Part of the squad will travel to Atlanta, Georgia for the Georgia Tech Invite, a two-day meet starting on Friday, April 16, and another part will go to Tiffin, Ohio for the Tiffin Invitational on Saturday, April 17.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop