DULUTH, Minn. – After a strong showing last week at UW-Stout, the Yellowjacket women's track and field team was back in action Saturday, competing at St. Scholastica's Lake Superior Challenge.
It was another strong day for the Yellowjackets, punctuated by one first-place finish.
Leading the way for the Yellowjackets was
McKenna Nash (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander). The freshman earned her first collegiate win Saturday, coming in first in the pole vault by clearing the bar at a height of 2.60 meters. The mark shattered her previous personal best by more than a foot and currently has her ranked second in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).
Catie McPherson (Ashland, Wis./Ashland) was right behind Nash, placing second with a mark of 2.00 meters.
Emma Johnson (Centuria, Wis./Unity) continued the strong start to her season, posting top-three finishes in both the shot put and weight throw. Johnson was third in the shot put with a heave of 15.13 meters, a mark that places her third in the UMAC, 27th in the NCAA North Region and 68th in all of Division III. She was also third in the weight throw with a mark of 11.56 meters, a mark that ties her for third in the UMAC.
The distance crew once again had a big week. Reigning UMAC Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Simone Stephens (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) placed second in the mile with a personal record time of 5:24.62. In the 5,000 meters
Halle Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) placed second with a time of 18:45.68, while
Cora Hudella (North Branch, Minn./North Branch Area) was right behind her with a time of 19:55.58. Both times set new personal records.
Meet Notes
- In addition to the Yellowjackets, St. Scholastica, Bemidji State and Crown also competed Saturday.
- The 4-x-400-meter relay team, consisting of Nash, Hudella, Barker and Maddelyn Swanson (Solon Springs, Wis./Solon Springs) placed third with a time of 4:45.14.
- Alexxa DeQuevedo (Silver Bay, Minn./William Kelley) (10.02 seconds) and Summer Hesseldahl (International Falls, Minn./Falls) (10.68 seconds) placed second and third, respectively in the 60-meter hurdles.
- Hesseldahl also placed third in the long jump.
- Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) placed third in the 60-meter dash.
- The Yellowjackets posted 14 personal records and four season bests Saturday.
The Yellowjackets return home to host the Third Annual Maday Classic Saturday, Feb. 10. The events will begin at noon in Lydia Thering Fieldhouse.
