Northwestern athletes won five events and had 10 top-three finishes at the Wildcat Classic in Wayne, Neb., last Friday and Saturday.
In her first meet of the track season following a campaign with the basketball team, junior Karen Hutson placed first in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump. Huston ran the hurdles in 14.42 seconds and jumped 19 feet in the long jump. Both marks surpassed the NAIA qualifying standard.
“(Adding winter athletes) only makes our team better,” said senior Jeriah Dunk. “They all are quality athletes.”
The GPAC awarded Hutson as Track and Field Co-Athlete of the Week. It was her first time receiving the award.
Hutson also teamed with junior Megan Walhof, sophomores Lauren Spranger and Emily Culver to finish third in the 4-by-400 meter relay. Spranger won the open 400 meter with a time of 58.11 seconds, and Walhof finished fourth with a time of 59.5 seconds.
On the men’s side, Dunk won the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.7 seconds. He also finished second in the 200-meter after running it in 21.9 seconds. Dunk, senior Jordan Strofaci, sophomore Alex Van Roekel and senior Jesse Selgeby finished fourth in the 4-by-100-meter with a time of 42.53 seconds.
Senior Taylor Bodin and sophomore Kyle Anderson finished first and second in the 800 meter in 1:54 and 1:55, respectively. Logan Hovland finished ninth with a time of 1:59.
“We had a good start to the season,” Dunk said. “Coach (Bahrke) said we had the best start to a season of any team he’s coached. We competed really well.”
The track and field team will compete again in the Dordt Invite at noon this Saturday in Sioux Center.