Manhattan, Kansas- The Northwestern Oklahoma State Track & Field team closed out a two day meet in Manhattan Kansas hosted by Kansas State University. The Friday events opened in weight throwing for the Rangers.
Northwestern had two athletes compete in weight throwing this week in Kelsey Swindle and Shaylee Beck. Each Ranger individual would qualify for the final round of the competition as each would have individual accomplishments. Beck earned her personal best with 8.13m and Swindle finished inches off her personal best with 11.78m. Her personal best came from last week in the season opener.
"We had great effort this afternoon we competed against some very talented Division I teams which produce many personal best more importantly we competed hard and we learned a lot about our program that will take us to the next level as we prepare for our next meet at Wichita. Be able to want something and knowing how to do it are two different things and I was proud of their patience and learning curve during the meet a lot of bright spots and a lot to look forward to" stated head coach Jill Lancaster.
The second day opened with the women's 60 meter race as the Rangers had nine athletes compete in this event as Kenya Jackson led the way for the Red-and-Black with a time of 8.24. She was followed by Debbie Olalere just a tenth of a second behind at 8.25.
Tavonyia Lacy, Diamond Hilton, Shakira Lane were the next three to finish following two Oral Roberts runners. Berthe Bright, Cayla Smither, Asaliyah Stovall and Sylvia Dennis closed out the race for the Rangers, each following just seconds behind one another.
"These women took advantage of being in a great facility and competing with stiff competition these last two days. The women continued the success they had last week into this week capturing 30 new PR's. These team as a whole are continuing to make steps in the right direction" assisted coach Sterlin Broomfield stated.
Following the women's 60 meter run was the 200 meter event as Northwestern had five runners compete in this event. Shakira Lane led the way placing sixth in this event with a time of 28.09 followed by Kenya Jackson, Diamond Hilton, Debbie Olalere finishing three straight spot for the Rangers.
Next thing the Rangers competed in was the women's 300 meter run where the program would have four runners led by Gina Wilson with a time of 46.90 placing fifth in the event. The 46.90 time sets the Northwestern school record in this event. Placing sixth right behind Wilson was Alexa Leyva with a 47.25 time. Mallory Paruszewksi ran a 54.49 for Northwestern.
The Red-and-Black had Ladasheray Bell place fourth in the Women's 600y event with a time of 1:37.61 followed by Emily Smith, Brianna Berryman, and Alyssa Wilson all closing in consecutively in the event. Emille Brown and Mariah Thompson ran 2:05.46 and 206.69 for the Rangers.
In the Women's 800 meter Northwestern had an athlete place second in the event in Jaeden Coon with a time of 2:55.75 followed by three straight Rangers in Jean Dodds, Savannah Francis, and Katelynn Dahn.
The next event at the KSU Deloss Dodds was the 1 mile run where Northwestern placed 17th in this event as Mallory Boden ran a 5:52.82 leading the way for Northwestern. She was followed by Libby Goodnow, Jaeden and Jerika Coon.
Mallory Boden placed eighth for the Rangers in the 3000 meter event for Northwestern Goodnow, Josie Gibson and Jerika Coon would ran a 12:52.23 time followed by 13:16.07 and 14.39.88 respective times.
Northwestern freshman Emily Smith placed fifth in the 60 meter hurdles for the Rangers as one of five athletes to compete. Smith finished 9.74 time. Gina Wilson placed eighth and Paruszewski 10th joining Smith in the top 10.
In the Women's 4 x 400m relay the Rangers would place in sixth place with Alexa Leyva, Tavonyia Lacy, Emily Smith, and Berthe Bright were the team running a 4:32.82 finish time.
The Women's high jump the Rangers placed second as junior Takia Zachary continued a nice start to the season with a 1.53 meter mark on the high jump. The mark moves her into second in the high jump for Northwestern. The long jump Northwestern placed sixth in Alexa Leyva with a mark of 5.05m. She was one of five athletes to compete in the long jump. Stovall, Myiah Logue and Cayla Smither and Gina Wilson placed consecutively for Northwestern in 11th-14th on the day.
The triple jump Northwestern competed in as Logue placed third for Northwestern to lead the way at 10.31m followed by Smither at 10.21 for consecutive Northwestern finishes.
Shot Put was the next event in the meet as Northwestern had four players participate in this event led by Destiny Chew at 10.21m as she was followed behind Hannah Appleton, Shaylee Beck, and Hunter McMillin placing fifth through eighth for the Rangers.
This closes out the second indoor meet for the Rangers. The team will have a week off before traveling to Wichita St. on February 4th for a meet in Wichita Kansas.
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