BROOKINGS, S.D. – With the calendar having turned to December, most have the holidays on their mind. Not so for the University of North Dakota track & field team, which got its indoor season underway on Friday night at the SDSU Holiday Invitational Indoor Track Meet.
The event, held at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex, served its purpose as a season-opener for North Dakota head coach Kevin Galbraith.
“ With these early season meets, it's always kind of rough,” said Galbraith, “but we had some really great performances. We also had some that still need work. We're knocking rust off that's been building for six months.
“And it was a tale of two meets for a lot of our kids.”
On the women's side, four UND throwers took top-10 finishes in the weight throw, including a pair of freshmen. Senior Molly Griep was the runner-up with a mark of 58 feet, 7.25 inches (17.86 meters). That performance, just shy of a personal record, was encouraging for Galbraith after Griep was unable to make the finals in the shot put.
“Molly never found herself in the shot put, but she pulled out a really nice throw in the weight and it was one of her best openers ever.”
Sophomore Jessica Drady placed seventh in the weight while freshmen Keely Walker and Makala Keefe were eighth and 10th, respectively, in their collegiate debuts.
Junior Katelyn Weber was UND's best in the shot, taking third with a throw of 46-06.25 (14.18) that improved her PR and solidified Weber at No. 4 in UND's all-time top 10.
“Katelyn in her first three throws was somewhat challenged, barely made the final, and then hit a great throw on last attempt,” said Galbraith. “She was knocking off some rust after redshirting last year, and it was fortunate she got into the finals because then she could find herself.”
On the track, Heather Harrower won the 400-meters after a slow start to the race.
“She was dead last coming through the 200,” said Galbraith, “and then blasted the whole field in the final 100. She redshirted last year outdoor for an injury. She's knocking a year's worth of rust off and she found it.”
Sophomore Kyley Foster, in her first action after a 6-month injury rehab, beat her opening mark from last year in the and was the runner up in the pole vault at 3.65 meters.
In the hurdles, sophomore Erin Brown ran PRs in both the 60 (9.21) and 200 (27.43). Her 60 hurdles time ranked as the fifth-best in school history.
“She's worked and gotten stronger and improved her technique,” said Galbraith.
Ashley Rone also cracked UND's all-time performance list. Her time of 1:39.07 in the 600 meters ranked 10th.
On the men's side, senior Jared Michel won the 300 hurdles and was the only competitor to break 40 seconds in the event, crossing the line at 39.50.
“That was a really strong performance,” said Galbraith. “It was probably our best event on the track.”
Sophomore Nolan Hovland had a good day in the high jump, clearing 2.05 meters. He tied with South Dakota State's Bryant Courter for runner-up, but was judged third because Courter was able to clear that mark one jump sooner.
As with the women's team, Galbraith was also pleased with his male throwers.
Ian Collins won the shot put with a throw of 16.69 meters that was just off his PR.
Sophomore Adam Mehr placed third in the weight throw, besting his personal best by over a full meter at 17.55.
“This is an event that technique and time make a big difference,” said Galbraith. “Adam comes in as a sophomore with a huge PR; that's significant because it shows how much he's improved and how quickly.”
With the opener and the inconsistencies that can come with it now out of the way, UND turns its attention to next Saturday's Green & Black Intersquad Meet at the UND Athletics High Performance Center.
It will be UND's first indoor home meet of any kind since 1985 and Galbraith says he does not want to reign in his student-athletes the way he might for a regular meet. The teams will be mixed gender and will be in charge of designing their own respective uniforms.
“We don't want them calm and focused. We want them running like wild horses,” said Galbraith with a laugh. “We want to let them loose. It's a team-bonding thing. It's a fun thing. We'll let the air out the HPC, so to speak.
“It's a competitive practice, but we're also trying to have some fun.”
