FARGO, N.D. - - The North Dakota State Tune-Up today served as the University of North Dakota track and field team's last prep before the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship next weekend.
“The purpose of a tune-up meet is to let those who need to compete, compete and give those who need a rest, a rest,” said UND head coach Kevin Galbraith. “Our track athletes that competed today ran shorter races, and our throwers competed to keep the momentum going.”
With two school records broken, it is safe to say that the throwers did not disappoint.
Molli Detloff improved her own school record in the hammer throw. She previously broke the school record this season in Wilmington, N.C., with a throw of 202 feet (61.56 meters). Today, she bested that record after hitting a mark of 202-06 (61.72). She sits at third in the Big Sky Conference standings.
Also breaking a school record was Katelyn Weber in the shot put. Her throw of 49-04.50 (15.05) beat the previous school record set by Alyssa Lueck last year with a mark of 49-02.50 (15.00). Weber's mark earned her the second spot in the Big Sky.
Earning personal records on the day were Jessica Drady in the hammer and Molly Griep in the discus.
Drady earned the fifth spot in UND history and the seventh spot in the Big Sky with her hammer throw of 181-09 (55.40). Her previous best mark was 168-04 (51.30), which she set earlier this year at Sacramento State.
Griep bested her previous personal record of 163-06 (49.83) with a throw of 165-01 (50.33). Her throw sets her third in the conference and she is tied for third in UND history.
“Two school records the week before conference is huge,” said Galbraith. “The throwers are going to take this momentum right into the conference meet.”
Competing on the track was Tianna McKinney. She earned the fourth spot in the Big Sky with her 200-meter run of 24.31 seconds.
On the men's side, Riley Miller tied his personal record long jump of 22-06.50 (6.87) and Adam Mehr was just short of his personal record in the hammer throw with a mark of 181-04 (55.28).
“This meet was based on individual needs.” said Galbraith. “We were using this only to get better for conference and we achieved everything we needed to achieve.”
The Fighting Hawks were set to compete tomorrow at the Ron Masanz Classic in Moorhead, Minn., but after a successful day today, they decided to withdraw from competition. They will head to the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship next week in Sacramento, Calif.
