Women's Track & Field | March 26, 2017
HOUSTON – The Western Michigan track and field team wrapped up its opening meet of the 2017 outdoor season at the 35th annual Victor Lopez Classic, hosted by Rice University, on Saturday.
The Broncos recorded several outdoor personal-best performances at the two-day meet and many finishers in the top 10.
"All in all, I thought it was a very good meet," said head coach Kelly Lycan. "Our main goal was to get some decent marks in good weather and we accomplished that."
One of the best events on the day was the 800-meter run. Redshirt freshman Sarah Anderson took fourth overall with a time of 2:12.74. Senior Jordan Anderson, no relation, took seventh overall with a time of 2:14.68 and freshman Holly Blowers took 10th with a time of 2:17.15.
"Both Jordan and Sarah kind of ran opposite races," explained Lycan. "Jordan started off really well but kind of faded, while Sarah didn't get out very fast but had a great finish. Those are solid times to start the season and we will definitely see those times improve. They are both athletes we are looking forward to scoring this year."
Sarah Anderson and Blowers also had solid performances in the 1,500-meter run with Anderson turning in a personal-best time of 4:41.43.
Freshman Madison Meredith had a solid outdoor debut, taking seventh place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.0 seconds. Senior Sarita Dotson ran an outdoor personal-best in the event with a time of 12.09. Dotson later went on to take sixth in the 200-meter dash after running a time of 24.35.
Davonne Bolden and Jordan Anderson both turned in outdoor personal-bests in the 400-meter dash. Bolden took ninth overall after running a time of 56.82 seconds. Anderson finished two spots behind Bolden with a time of 57.32.
Hanne Christensen also had an outdoor personal-best time in the 5,000-meter run. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native ran a time of 17:13.39 to take third place. Senior Amy Littlefield took seventh overall in the steeplechase with a time of 11:42.17.
WMU's relay teams also got off to a good start. In the 4x100-meter relay the Broncos took fifth overall with a time of 46.89 seconds. Dotson, Meredith, Gabrielle Collins and Ashley White all put in a solid effort. The 4x400-meter relay team of Jordan Anderson, Dotson, Bolden and Hufnagel combined to take second overall and the top collegiate finishing spot. The group ran a time of 3:47.05, only finishing behind a professional running team.
Hufnagel also took fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.28 and had a personal-best time of 14.07.
Collins had the top field performance of the day with a jump of 18' 9.25" in the long jump to take seventh.
Western Michigan hosts Eastern Michigan on Friday for the Jack Shaw Classic. Events begin at 10 a.m. at the Kanley Track & Field Complex.
