COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Yellowjacket women's track and field team was back in action Saturday, competing in its third meet of the 2024-25 indoor track and field season. The Donald McNeely Spectrum was the venue, as the Yellowjackets competed at the Saint Benedict Invitational.
 
And like last Saturday at the Twin Ports Open, the Yellowjackets had another good day.
 
Continuing her impressive sophomore campaign, Simone Stephens (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) led the charge for the Yellowjackets Saturday. Stephens, the reigning women's track Athlete of the Week in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) had another big day bringing home the first-place finish in the mile. Stephens posted a season best with a time of 5:22.88, putting her just two second shy of her personal record.
 
Following her win in the mile, Stephens posted another season best, running the 800-meter run in a time of 2:31.39. The time placed her third in the event, and she was the top finisher among UMAC competitors.
 
Stephens currently sits atop the UMAC leaderboard in the mile and is fourth in the 800 meters.
 
Summer Hesseldahl (International Falls, Minn./Falls) also had a good day for the Yellowjackets, finishing second in the long jump with a mark of 4.86 meters. The leap was the second-longest of her collegiate career and also ranks her second in the UMAC.
 
Meet Notes

• Cora Schmitz (Luck, Wis./Unity) earned a top five finish in the 60-meter dash, finishing fourth with a time of 8.67 meters. She finished just outside the top five in the 200-meter dash, placing sixth with a time of 30.26 seconds.
• A trio of Yellowjackets finished within a few second of each other in the mile Tea Boerner (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) placed fifth with a time of 5:44.87. Cora Hudella (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) was right behind her with a time of 5:46.72. Rounding it out was Halle Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior), who finished seventh in 5:50.93.
• In addition to her long jump exploits, Hesseldahl finished third in the 60-meter hurdles, coming in with a time of 9.99 seconds.
• Kory Windish (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) found the top ten in the shot put, finishing sixth with a heave of 10.08 meters.
• The Yellowjackets occupied places three through five in the pole vault. Kayela Putnam (Stephenson, Mich./Stephenson) placed third after clearing the bar at a height of 2.60 meters. Hannah Hutton (Spooner, Wis./Spooner) was fourth with a mark of 2.45 meters, while Keira Hesseldahl (International Falls, Minn./Falls) and McKenna Nash (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) finished tied for fifth at 2.15 meters.
• Myla Volk (Wabeno, Wis./Wabeno) took fifth in the long jump with a mark of 4.38 meters. She also placed fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 9.74 meters.
• The Yellowjackets posted eight personal records and seven season bests Saturday.

The Yellowjackets will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 1 when they travel to UW-Stout for the Warren Bowlus Invite. Events are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the UW-Stout Sports and Fitness Center.