Mavericks finish strong at SDSU Indoor Classic

The men’s and women’s track teams competed on Friday and Saturday in South Dakota

Bobbi Patrick
Staff Writer

The Minnesota State Mavericks men’s and women’s track and field teams took a road trip to South Dakota State University for the SDSU Indoor Classic this past weekend.

The meet took place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9 where many athletes came back to Mankato with personal bests. 

In the finals of the women’s 60-meter dash, sophomores Khenadi Jones and Grace Hartman took 3rd and 4th in a very competitive field.

Sophomore runner Mackenzie Woodward and junior Crystal Malone brought home huge personal best times in the 400-meter dash. Woodward ran a 57.04 and Malone ran a 57.47, both beating their previous best times by about a second.

Senior Bobbi Patrick had two season personal bests in the 600-meter dash and the 800-meter run, with a 1:35.97 in the 600 and a 2:13.75 in the 800.

Freshman Amanda Montplaisir took 5th and scored for the team in the 1000 meter run with a 3:04.13.

Sophomore Josie Braaten made her debut in the 5000-meter run with a 18:36, which seeds her 11th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 

In the field events, senior Heather Buckler scored in the women’s shot put with a throw of 13.84 meters. In the weight throw, sophomore Katie Taylor threw 18.59 meters to place 8th overall.

In the men’s events, some of the standout performances included personal bests as well.

In the 400-meter dash, senior John Schuster took first place with a 47.85. 

Following close behind him in the finals were teammates Josh Phelps who earned 3rd and Reid Diamond, who placed 7th.

Later in the meet, sophomore Jacob Wahlers took 6th in the 800 and the 1000. With a 1:54.03 and a 2:28.70, he is seeded highly in the Northern Sun conference.

Senior Austin Pasch finished 4th in the mile with a 4:09.02, improving his personal best time of the season.

In the men’s 5000-meter run, senior Caleb Burke and junior Austin Yardley went 5th and 6th, both earning big personal bests for the season. Burke finished with a 14:49 and Yardley finished in 14:51.

In the finals of the 60-meter hurdles, senior Sydne Davis took the win, respectfully beating out his competition with a time of 8.07 seconds.

In the men’s pole vault, senior Ryan Kruse placed 8th, scoring for the team with a vault of 4.35 meters. Making a statement in the sandpit, maverick triple jumper’s Victor Ogeka and Elijah Calderon-Pitchford placed 5th and 7th. Ogeka jumping 14.23 meters and Calderon-Pitchford jumping 14.05 meters.

In the throws, junior Connor McCormick threw 17.56 meters to place 13th in the weight throw, while senior Jayme LaPlante was the highest placing Maverick in the shot put with a 15.42-meter throw.

The Mavericks will be home this weekend when they compete at the Maverick Invite. Looking ahead, the NSIC Championships will be held at the Myers Field House Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23.

Feature photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.