After getting off to a slow start in the season, the indoor track team is gaining strength. Last Saturday the Raiders had a good showing at the Dordt Invitational.
“All the hard work that each individual is putting in is definitely starting to show as a whole,” said senior runner Nancy Koskamp.
Women’s Track
In the 55 meter dash, junior Sheena Getty placed 4th in 7.66 seconds. In the 200-meter dash, junior Rachel Martin placed 4th and senior Stacy Kanis followed her in 5th with 27.96 and 28.02, respectively. Freshman Carmen Moss ripped up the track in the one mile run placing 2nd in 5:39.04 minutes. Juniors Shanna Vetter and Renee Van Regenmorter ran in the 400m run placing 4th and 9th with times of 1:02.17 and 1:09.50, respectively.
Junior Mikyla Dittman was one of those who performed well on Saturday, qualifying automatically for nationals in the 600-meter run. “We are quite pleased with Mikyla because that was her first attempt at the 600,” said Coach Mike Reed.
In the 800-meter, senior Beth Harding demolished the competition taking first with a time of 2:28.94, while seniors Nancy Koskamp took 2nd with 2:29.70 and Ashley Ruppert took 6th with 2:38.95.
Senior Magdalene Biesanz led the Raiders in the 3000-meter run, taking 2nd place with 11:05.21, junior Crystal Drury placed 7th with 12:12.72.
Kanis provisionally qualified for her race; the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 8:48, but due to a failed timer the qualification is not certain at this point. Senior Ethanie Wallinga placed 6th with 9:72 in this race.
In the 4×400 meter relay the NW women took 3rd place with a time of 4:13.66. The 4×800 meter relay team also took 3rd with 9:51.89.
In the high jump, sophomore Megan Harding took 5th with 5-00.00. Getty placed 9th in the long jump with 14-11.25. In the shot put Alissa Ylonen placed 13th with 32-04.50.
“We are definitely moving in the right direction as a team,” said Reed. “We just need to avoid the risk of injuries that can occur when running on indoor tracks.”
Men’s Track
In the 55 meter dash, senior Karlton Hector placed 5th with 6:76. Robbie Cundy placed 7th in the 200-meter dash with 24:04. In the 1 mile run senior Jeff Peterson place 6th with 4:44.63.
In the 400-meter run, sophomore Kraig Van Dyke led NW placing 10th, junior Kyle Bahrke, 11th; freshman Jacob Dawson, 12th; and freshman Franklin Yartey, 21st. Freshman Michael Vermeer ran a strong race placed 3rd in the 800 meter run with 2:02.28, sophomore Michael Christians placed 10th.
In the 55-meter hurdles, Cundy placed 3rd with 8.47. Junior Ryan Musil grabbed some air and took 3rd place with 6-04.00 high jump. Hector led the Raiders in the long jump taking 5th place with 20-07.00 while freshman Zach Stuckey took 7th with 20-05.5. Placing 5th in the shotput was freshman Nick Fynaardt with 43-10.00.
The next meet for part of the team is tomorrow at Mankato, MN, where the 4×800 will attempt to make national qualifying time. The full team will next compete Friday, Feb. 13th in Lincoln, Neb. and on the 14th in Wayne, Neb.
