Women's Track & Field | April 21, 2019

TORRANCE, Calif. – The Western Michigan track and field team wrapped up competition at the 2019 Mt. SAC Relays late Saturday night, while also competing at the RedHawk Invitational in the afternoon.

The 400-hurdles and the 800-meter run highlighted WMU's performance out in California, with junior Erin Dowd running the second-fastest 400 hurdles time in program history. Dowd finished third overall and second collegiately after running a time of 57.87 seconds, crushing her previous personal-best time of 59.08. The Brighton, Mich., native is now within striking distance of the program record of 57.11 set by All-American Danielle Brown in 2009.

Junior Sarah Anderson ran the Mid-American Conference's fastest time in the 800 at 2:07.66. Anderson was pitted against some of top collegiate runners and professional runners in the event, finishing in 14th overall and seventh in her heat.

Sophomore Abena Atuobi took sixth in the shot put, throwing a distance of 46' 8.25" (14.23m).

Over at Miami, Olivia O'Brien's win in the javelin highlighted Western Michigan's performance. O'Brien threw a distance of 114' 11" (35.03m). WMU also had success in the discus taking second, third fourth and fifth. Aniya Davis threw a distance of 148' 11" (45.39m) to take first place and was followed by Madison Ochs, Riley Wilhelm and O'Brien. Ochs also took second in the shot put with a distance of 42' 0.50" (12.81m).

Haley Ritsema took second place in the 1,500-meter run after running a time of 4:47.68. Senior Diana Holsey also took second place, running a time of 15.61 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. Tauja Foreman finished just behind her with a time of 15.72.

WMU splits up next week again, heading to the Drake Relays and the Jesse Owens Track Classic.