SEARCY, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Track and Field concluded the Great American Conference championships finishing the three day meet. Rangers placed fifth overall in the conference meet with a total of 52 points. The Rangers overall as a team produced 28 personal bests and three school records throughout the three day meet. This school records came in the two relay teams of the 4x100 and 4x400m along with the Hammer throw.
"We are very proud of the perseverance shown by our seniors who endured the COVID years and committed to represent our Ranger program. I am also very proud of our coaches, Derrick Young, and Sterlin Broomfield whose efforts continue to bring our program to new levels" stated head coach Jill Lancaster.
The Rangers earned some individual awards as five athletes earned first team all conference. This included Debbie Olalere producing two with her third place finishing in the 100 meter and as a member of the 4x100 relay team placing third as well. This relay consisted of Diamond Hilton, Brianna Brantley and Shackera Douglas. Valerie Nzeakor earned first team as well following her runner-up finish in the long jump event.
Second team honors were rewarded to Kelsey Swindle following her fourth place finish setting the new school record in the hammer throw. In the 100 meters Brianna Brantley and Shackera Douglas each earned second team. Machala Hengen earned second team for the 100 hurdles and Avery Dempsey in the Javelin.
Honorable mention was earned by Diamond Hilton in the 200, Ladasheray Bell in the 400, Takia Zachary in the high jump, Jordyn Tucker in the Javelin and Gina Wilson in the Heptathlon.
Along with these awards three individuals earned academic awards as our student athletes continue to represent Northwestern Oklahoma State academically. Emilie Brown, and Emily Smith for the second straight year earned distinguished scholar award along with Shakira Lane earning the award this year. This is given to athletes with 70 hours and a 3.7GPA.
Day three of the meet started with the field events. The Rangers found success in the javelin throw as Avery Dempsey and Jordyn Tucker both placed in the top eight qualifying for the final round and eventually earning points for the Rangers. Dempsey finished placing in fifth with a best throw of 34.54m. Tucker placed eighth in the event with a best throw being marked at 32.28m.
The track events opened with the 4x100 relay as Northwestern placed in the top three with a time of 47.04 which featured Engermann, Lacy, Lane, and Bell. Continuing with the track events Machala Hengen finished inside the top eight after qualifying for the finals Hengen placed sixth in the event with a final time of 15.14 seconds.
Rangers continued to score this time in the 400 meters as Ladasheray Bell placed seventh in the event with a final time of 1:00.18.This was followed by the 100 meters where the Rangers had three of the eight qualifiers. Debbie Olalere placed third in the event with a time of 11.95, followed by Shackera Douglas in fifth with a 12.12 and Brianna Brantley in sixth at 12.18.
In the 200 meter relays Diamond Hilton scored for the Rangers placing eighth overall after qualifying earlier in the meet on day two. She finished with a time of 25.42.
The final event of the meet featured the Rangers 4x400 relay team which placed fifth in the event earning points for the Rangers while also setting the new school record in the 4x400m relay with a time of 4:01.94. This relay was Engermann, Lacy, Lane and Bell
The overall winner was Oklahoma Baptist in first with 256.5 points followed by Harding and Southern Arkansas to round out the top three in the conference.
The Rangers will close their season with a last chance meet hosted by West Texas A&M in Canyon Texas.Â
Heptathlon:
7. Gina Wilson 3587Â
12. Kate Foster 2849
LONG JUMP:
2. Valerie Nzeakor 5.65mÂ
7. Aja Johnson 5.19mÂ
HAMMER THROW:
4. Kelsey Swindle 45.16mÂ
11. Emmalee Osborn 33.28mÂ
13. Mackayla Womack 32.25m
17. Temi Michaels 20.98m
HIGH JUMP:
8. Takia Zachary 1.55mÂ
11. Gina Wilson 1.50m
SHOT PUT:
11. Hannah Appleton 11.31m
12. Abigail Meyer 11.26m
16. Emmalee Osborn 10.39m
20. Mackayla Womack 9.46m
22. Temi Michaels 8.84m
TRIPLE JUMP:
9. Ladasheray Bell 10.51m
10. Gina Wilson 9.57m
JAVELIN:
5. Avery Dempsey 34.54m
8. Jordyn Tucker 32.28m
11.Hunter McMillin 31.13m
16. Alexandra Kepley 27.69m
17. Kate Foster 27.56m
DISCUS:
10. Hannah Appleton 37.54m
17. Mackayla Womack 31.93m
19. Avery Dempsey 30.48m
20. Temi Michaels 29.90m
21. Abigail Meyer 28.13m
4x100 Relay:
3. Hilton, Brantley, Douglas, Olalere 47.04
1500 Meters:
36. Jasmin Garcia 5:28.96
55. Mallory Paruszewski 6:48.48
100M Hurdles:
6. Machala Hengen 15.14
400 METERS:
7. Ladasheray Bell 1:00.18
9. Tavonyia Lacy 1:00.39
10. Shakira Lane 1:00.49
15. Renaja Engermann 1:01.16
100 METERS:
3. Debbie Olalere 11.95
5. Shackera Douglas 12.12
6. Brianna Brantley 12.18
800 METERS:
25. Jasmin Garcia 2:33.13
400 METER HURDLES:
13. Emily Smith 1:11.09
15. Machala Hengen 1:13.45
200 METER:
8. Diamond Hilton 25.42
9. Shackera Douglas 25.86
10. Brianna Brantley 25.92
13. Riley Midgett 26.08
5000 METER:
Addie Hoeme 23:22.76
4x400M Relay
5. Bell, Lacy, Lane, Engermann 4:01.94
