Women's Track & Field | May 06, 2017
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's track and field team closes out the regular season at the Kentucky Relays on Saturday at the University of Kentucky.
It's the final meet before the Broncos host the 2017 Outdoor Mid-American Conference Championship beginning next Thursday. WMU will take on the host Wildcats, along with Berea, Central College, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky State, Lipscomb, Lindsey Wilson, Marshall, Ursuline and Xavier.
The running events start early with the 5,000-meter run at 10:40 a.m. The 4x100-meter relay, in which WMU ranks first in the MAC, takes place at 11:25 a.m. and is followed by the 100-meter hurdles. The Broncos are also set to compete in the 1,500-meter run, the 100-meter dash, the 400-meter dash, the 400-meter hurdles, the 200-meter dash, the 800-meter run and the 4x400-meter relay.
The field events begin at 11 a.m. with the shot put, followed by the long jump, javelin, hammer throw, high jump and triple jump. The final field event on the day is the discus at 3:30 p.m.
This meet is the final chance for Western Michigan athletes to improve their standings on the MAC's performance list. WMU has automatic qualifiers in seven events heading into the final week. Senior Sarita Dotson has the third-fastest time in the 200-meter dash at 24.10 seconds. In the 400-meter dash, junior Ayiana Gaines holds the top ranking after a time of 53.67 seconds. Two Broncos, Sarah Anderson and Jordan Anderson, are qualified in the 800-meter run. Sarah has the second-fastest time in the MAC at 2:09.16. Senior Lindsey Hufnagel is automatically qualified in the 100-meter hurdles after running a time of 13.85 at the Penn Relays. Hufnagel and Gaines are also both qualified in the 400-meter hurdles. Senior Diajah Ruffin is ranked fourth in the triple jump. Junior Brittany Casey recently qualified for the hammer throw after throwing a distance of 179' 11" at the Ball State Challenge.
