Women's Track & Field | March 31, 2017
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan track and field team defended its home turn on Friday, defeating defending Outdoor Mid-American Conference Champions Eastern Michigan, 106-85, at the Kanley Track and Field Complex.
WMU won 11 of the meets on the day, including sweeping the middle distance and distance races.
"We always try to, as a goal, win all of our scored meets, especially our home ones, and we accomplished that today," said head coach Kelly Lycan. "We match up a little bit better in a meet like this against them. We have better team depth this year than we did the past couple years and for a dual meet, those second and third place finishes make a big difference."
The throwers got the Broncos off to a hot start, winning the shot put and hammer throw. Savanah Dugan claimed the top spot in the shot put with a distance of 42' 2.25". She was followed by teammate Brittany Casey in second with a distance of 40' 1.25". Casey also won the hammer throw with a distance of 167' 6" and had a personal-best in the discus after taking second place with a mark of 134' 11". WMU took second and third in the javelin with senior Kara Craig claiming the runner-up spot after throwing 112' 4". Sophomore Allison Hufnagel took third with a distance of 110' 8".
"They did a great job," said Lycan on his throwers. "PR's for several people. The discus was the best that Brittany Casey has ever thrown. Those ladies performed really well and got us off to a great start."
WMU also won two more field events, taking first in the high jump and the long jump. Freshman Kaydon Fosler took first in the high jump after clearing a height of 5' 3.25". Redshirt freshman Gabrielle Collins took the top spot in the long jump after a distance of 18' 7".
Western Michigan took first in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run and 3,000-meter run against a talented and tough middle and distance squad from the Eagles. Senior Jordan Anderson claimed the top spot in the 800 after running a time of 2:15.98. Mackenzie Evers took third in the event with a time of 2:21.78. Redshirt freshman Sarah Anderson claimed the top spot in the 1,500 after running a time of 4:38.58. Finally, WMU went first and second in the 3,000 with junior Hanne Christensen leading the way with a time of 10:02.25. Just behind her was senior Daya Wagh with a time of 10:16.67 to take eight of the 11 points awarded in the event.
Senior Lindsey Hufnagel took first in both of the hurdle events. In the 100-meter hurdles she ran a personal-best time of 14.05 seconds, beating her teammate Collins by .82. In the 400-meter hurdles she ran a time of 1:01.39 with senior Keyera Lige right behind her in second at 1:02.88.
Senior Sarita Dotson won the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.97, edging out EMU's Jasmine Jones by .06. Junior Ayiana Gaines dominated the 400-meter hurdles, beating Eastern Michigan's Kadesha James by nearly a second after running 55.92.
Western Michigan heads down south to Auburn University for the Tiger Track Classic next Friday and Saturday.
