DULUTH, Minn.: The UW-Superior women's track and field team lifted the lid on the 2018-19 indoor season at The Opener, hosted by St. Scholastica, on Saturday.
 
The Yellowjackest recorded 11 personal-best marks against the likes of Scholastica, Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State, St. Catherine, Northern Michigan and Northwestern (Minn.).
 
Among the impressive performances was Valerie Rowe (Ironwood, Mich./A.D. Johnston), who finished second in the pole vault with a top mark of 2.95 meters (9-8). She was the top Division III finisher in the event, best by only UMD's Abbie Rockstad by six inches.
 
Haruka Hamanaka (Izumisano, Japan/Kishiwada) set a personal best in the 3,000-meter run, finishing fourth overall in 11:38.90. She, too, was the top D-III finisher in the race and led a contingent of  two more Yellowjackets – Ali Manthey (Zimmerman, Minn./Elk River) (sixth, 12:05.90) and Anna Kallin (12:05.99, seventh) – in the race.
 
Mikaela Shepard (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) was fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 1:02.06 as the fastest Division III competitor in the race. She bested athletes from Northwestern, UMD and Bemidji State in the event.
 
Rounding out the strong showings on the 'Jackets first day of competition was Maria Mazo's (Hendaye, France/Irungo La Salle) effort in the high jump. She finished sixth overall with a mark of 1.50 meters.
 
The Yellowjackets return to action Jan. 11 at the St. Thomas Opener. Events in Saint Paul begin at 2 p.m.