NORMAN, Okla. – It was another successful weekend for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's track and field program and the Ranger athletes competed well at the UCO Alumni Classic, held at the Oklahoma-Mosier Indoor Track in Norman on Saturday.
Highlighting the day for the Rangers was three top-three finishes, including a third place finish by Gina Wilson in the pentathlon. Completing in the event for the first time in her collegiate career, Wilson compiled 2420 points with third place finishes in the high jump (1.47 meters) and the long jump (4.31 meters).
"We started the day with multi-event athletes who performed exceptionally well for their first time out.," said head coach Jill Lancaster following the meet. "We set multiple person records today. It was a great day to be a Ranger."
Junior Claire Theis was close behind Wilson in the pentathlon for fifth place.
In the triple jump, Keiazyiah Young cleared her collegiate best mark she set last week at the Wichita State Invitational as she jumped 10.71 meters at the UCO meet on Saturday for a third place finish in the finals. Young also joined Megan Mayfield, Jouney LeBeau and Ledasheray Bell in the 4x400 relay, improving on their time as they finished with a mark of 4:19.73 for fourth place.
Cayla Smither jumped 10.39 meters in the triple jump to place fifth.
Adding a third place mark in the high jump was Lashayla Green as she leapt 1.4 meters in the event.
A pair of Rangers were the top throwers of their flight at the meet with Jenny Martinez and Rayna Patton finishing back-to-back with distance of 10.43 and 10.40 meters in the shot put. Both of which were personal bests for the pair.
Senior distance runner Kayla Gourley recorded her second personal record in as many weeks when she crossed the line at 11:51.98 in the 3000-meter race to finish in the top half of the field. Last week in Wichita, she set a new PR in the 1-mile race.
"Today we got better," said associate head coach Brock Hime. "All three distance athletes set new PR's and we took something positive away."
In the 400-meter event, Bell and LeBeau each finished second in their respective sections. Bell came in with a time of 1:04.70, while LeBeau closed the event at 1:07.50. Young and Green also finished second in their sections of the 200-meter dash.
After every race, we discuss one key to take away and after last week's races, I definitely saw improvement and more focus. Our middle distance crew had a good day as well. We worked on speed with the 400-meter and they really stepped up in the 4x400 meter."
Northwestern track and field athletes will be back in action in two weeks at the first ever Great American Conference Indoor Championship, held at the same facility as Saturday's meet.
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