Track and field shows promise at Jim Emmerich Invitational

Minnesota State’s men and women’s track and field teams participated in the Jim Emmerich Invitational over the weekend as they traveled to Brookings, South Dakota.

Mavericks sophomore Khadiya Hollingsworth shined on the day, as she broke a school-indoor track and field record in the high jump with her jump of 5’10”. Hollingsworth not only set the school record, she also qualified nationally and the jump is currently the best in the current NCAA Division II track and field season.

Senior Brieanna Puckett also had a great day and placed a personal best time in the 200-meter dash (25.32), landing her a third-place finish. Puckett also took third place (18’25”) in the long jump. Senior Haley Kruger earned a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run (2:13.54), which met provisional qualifying standards.

Back on the field, senior Brianna Ziolkowski also participated in the high jump and earned fifth place with her 5’4.25” jump. Senior Ariel Thomas competed in the triple jump and placed a distance of 39’9.25” to give her a third place finish. Thomas did not stop there however, as she also secured a second place (18’2.25) finish in the long jump.

After 15 events scored, the Mavericks were sitting in fourth place with a score of 50. North Dakota State held the top spot with a score of 107.

The men did not have any record-breaking performances on the day, however that does not negate the productive day they did have. Sophomore Tanner Ogren had a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash, placing a time of 22.04. True-freshman Dalton Bialke finished fifth in the 600-meter run with his time of 1:23.33. The team of Ogren, sophomore Reid Diamond, sophomore John Schuster, and sophomore Isaiah Calderon-Pitchford competed in the 4×400-meter relay and finished third overall (3:17.08). The time met the provisional qualifying standards.

On the field, sophomore Mitchell Valli participated in the pole vault and took third with a leap of 16’2.75”, which also met provisional qualifying standards. Junior Michael Sandle took fourth in the long jump with a distance of 22’11”.

After 15 events scored, Minnesota State ranked fifth, scoring 29 points. South Dakota State finished first in scoring with 101.

The men and women will be back in action when they host the MSU Open and Multi on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 at Myers Field House.