Track and Field jumps to new records 

Both men’s and women’s track and field teams took over as they leaped past all the competition.

At home, they hosted the Ted Nelson Classic. The men took first place out of 10 teams, while the women took second out of nine.

“The highlight of the day was Flore Gracia breaking her school record in the triple jump,” said head coach Mike Turgeon in a press release on the Mankato Athletics website.

Gracia broke her own school record in the triple jump with a 13.28-meter distance. Gracia’s jump ranks first in NCAA Division II this season, and the third-best triple jump in NCAA Division II history. This season, she has the first, second, and fourth-best marks, while MSU teammates Stella Neophytou and Lillian Washington rank seventh and eighth.

Omaha alum Nkiruka Domike set the first and second place records in 2011 with 13.76 and 13.40-meter jumps.

Four more first-place finishes occurred for the women’s team in the pole vault, shot put, high jump and 4×400-meter relay team.

Hope Stangel cleared 3.71 meters in the pole vault, Madeline Fretag threw for 13.49 meters in the shot put and Lillian Washington jumped 1.67 meters in the high jump. Alexa Post, Esther Miller, Lillian Orf and Melanie Marks finished with a time of 4:14.77 in the relay.

For the men, James Gilbert and Shemar Miller grabbed the national lead in Division II long jump and triple jump.

Gilbert dominated the nation with the first, second and third-best jumps of the year. He took first with his 7.78-meter jump Saturday. MSU’s Slade Heald took second with a distance of 7.49 meters. Miller’s triple jump at 15.93 meters now leads all of Division II.

More wins came from various competitions. Freshman Collin Windorski won the pole vault at 4.92 meters, Carter Aguilera won the men’s weight throw at 19.48 meters and Aiden Buendorf topped the high jump at 2.06 meters.

Gilbert, Miller, Heald and Onyekachi Ukaobasi took first in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:27.03.

“I am very happy with how our teams are progressing this indoor season,” said Turgeon. “James Gilbert and Shemar Miller taking over the national lead in long jump and triple jump were highlights. It is very enjoyable to watch them compete at such a high level.”

As a team, the Mavericks (179) came in ahead of St. Thomas (124), Minnesota Duluth (97), Sioux Falls (81.5), North Iowa Area CC (63), Iowa Central CC (30), Carleton (27), Hawkeye CC (21) and Martin Luther (15).

Header Photo: Flore Gracia recorded a 13.28 meter triple jump. Gracia’s jump puts her first in the NCAA Division II leaderboard this season. (Courtesy Maverick Athletics)

Write Luke Jackson at luke.jackson.2@mnsu.edu