Two races in Oregon result in a school record in one and a facility record in the other to go along with five event wins at Minnesota State University – Moorhead putting the wraps on a busy weekend for North Dakota track and field.
Oregon State University High Performance Meet
Corvallis, Ore – Narrowly missing a school record last night in the 1500m,
Erica Eades left no doubt today in the 800m. She bested Becky Leppard's school record of 2:09.17 by nearly two seconds finishing in 2:07.21. Leppard's record stood for 20 years, but now it is East Grand Forks native Eades who holds the top spot on the chart. In the fast heat, Eades rode a quick first lap by the leaders, coming across the 400m in 1:02.18 and finishing in 1:05.03. She finished sixth overall in a field of 31 which saw the top eight finishes break the previous facility record.
Lucy Steinmeyer was four-tenths of a second shy of a school record yesterday in the 200m, and today she set the facility record in the 400m with a time of 45.19. Steinmeyer was the fastest in the field of 21 competitors. It is a seven-tenths of a second PR for Steinmeyer, who is closing in on Stephanie Clarke's school record of 54.03 set at the 2014 Big Sky Conference Championships. The time steps Steinmeyer up into the number two spot on the UND top-10 list.
The trip to Oregon State paid off in big ways for North Dakota. Three of the five student-athletes on the trip combined for one new school record, one new facility record and three other performances that rank second all-time at UND.
Ron Masanz Classic
Moorhead, Minn. – Five event victories and four new entries into the UND top ten lists were the highlights which included solid days for the throws group and the middle distance crew on a warm, sunny and windy day.
The day started off well for the Hawks in the women's discus. Battling a cross wind from the left, right handed throwing
Natalie Mohring took home top honors with a throw of 45.81 (150-3.5). Teammates
Makala Keefe and
Kenna Curry weren't far behind, finishing third and fifth respectively with throws of 44.18m (144-11.5) and 41.80m (137-1.75).
The first victory on the track belonged to
Hannah Oscarson in the 1500m. Oscarson led wire to wire and was unchallenged on the way to victory in 4:36.31. The Hawks went 1-2-3 in the event with
Ellyssa Peterson and
McKenzie Burian finishing second and third respectively with times of 4:42.02 and 4:43.84.
In the next race on the track, the men's 1500m,
Luke Labatte made it a men's-women's sweep for North Dakota, winning in a PR of 3:56.83. Labatte led nearly every step and cruised to a near three-second win separating from the field over the last 400 meters. That time is the fifth fastest in UND history.
Later on in the 400m hurdles,
Elaina Swartz ran a clean race taking top honors in a PR of 1:02.45 which moves her up one spot on the UND top 10 chart from ninth to eighth.
North Dakota's 4x400m relay team of Swartz,
Erica Benson,
Amanda Robbins and
Michaela Oosthuizen earned a win with a time of 3:58.59.
Second place finishes belong to:
- Allison Lardy, shot put, 14.23m (46-8.25) – now the sixth best in UND history
- Jennifer Parent, long jump, 5.55m (18-2.5)
- Jacob Henne, 300m Steeplechase, 10:03.96
- Aleece Durbin, 100m hurdles, 14.78
- Oosthuizen, 800m, 2:14.36
- Matt Culhane, discus, 46.76m (153-5)
- Connor McMannes, Alec Nelson, Zach Long, Jack Vetsch, 4x400m relay, 3:22.41
Austin Wolf placed third in the high jump, 2.04m (6-8.5). That mark improves his fourth place standing all-time at UND.
North Dakota is scheduled to compete at the South Dakota tune-up next Friday, May 7 in the final meet prior to The Summit League Championships.
