The Hillsdale College women's track and field team finished a successful week at its new track out at Hayden Park on Friday, wrapping up the 2024 G-MAC Outdoor Championships with a third place finish in the team standings.
The Chargers scored 142 points for the week, adding two more individual championships on the final day to finish just behind champion Findlay and runner-up Tiffin.
Hillsdale's day was highlighted by an impressive 1-2 finish for the Chargers in the 100m hurdles. Seniors Shura Ermakov and Louisa Klaserner took first and second for the Chargers, with Ermakov winning the G-MAC title in 14.10 and Klaserner finishing just behind in runner-up position in 14.14. The pair also placed in the 400m hurdles, with Ermakov taking second in 1:01.92 and Klaserner placing fourth in a new NCAA DII Provisional qualifying time of 1:02.29 that ranks her 49th in NCAA DII. Freshman Nola Hipkins placed eighth as well in the 400m hurdles in 1:02.29.
The Chargers got another championship in the high jump, as Reagan Dahlquist tied with Ashland's Emma Liberatore at 1.67 meters, sharing the G-MAC crown in the event. It's the second straight G-MAC title in the high jump for Dahlquist, who also won the crown in 2023, and raises Dahlquist's provisional qualifying mark in the event to 40th in NCAA DII.
Hillsdale had several other strong performances in a competitive meet that saw some of the fastest times in the nation this week. Senior Emily Gerdin broke her own school record in the triple jump with a mark of 12.08 meters to place second, and also earned a NCAA DII provisional mark that ranks 31st nationally.
Senior Liz Wamsley placed third in the 1,500m run with a time of 4:29.69, a personal best for her as well as a NCAA DII provisional mark ranking 47th nationally, and the Chargers placed three in the 800m run, with Reese Dragovich taking third in 2:10.55, Megan Roberts placing fifth in 2:13.87, and Zoe Burke finishing sixth in 2:15.07.
Francesca Federici placed in the 400m dash for the Chargers, taking eighth in 57.41, and was a part of two fourth-place relays for the Chargers, teaming with Lucy Minning, Anna Lamoreaux and Tara Townsend to place fourth in the 4x100m relay in 47.49, and with Burke, Roberts and Josee Behling to place fourth in the 4x400m relay in 3:52.45.
In the throws, freshman Amelia Lutz placed in two events for the Chargers, taking seventh in the shot put with a mark of 13.24 meters, and eighth in the discus with a mark of 40.99 meters. Katie Sayles also placed in the shot put for Hillsdale, taking sixth with a throw of 13.29 meters.
With the conference meet over, the focus now turns to Last Chance Week and solidifying spots in the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships at the end of May. Hillsdale will host its own meet on Wednesday, May 8 to try and get marks that make a difference, and will be sending athletes to a variety of meets all week as well.