CHAMPAIGN, Ill./COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Katie Nichols,
Lily Overton and
Sierra Sommers all earned top-10 marks in a strong weekend for the Western Michigan track and field team at the Jesse Owens Classic and Gary Wieneke Memorial.
Overton collected the sixth-best 5K mark in program history, crossing the finish line in a time of 16:31.56.
Lara Machado Pereira (17:13.12),
Madison Zarembski (17:16.15),
Larissa McGrath (17:31.98) and
Madison Clor (17:48.42) also performed well in the event.
Despite being new to the javelin, Nichols continued her strong season by earning the sixth-best mark in school history. Her throw of 32.83 meters was good for sixth in the event. Sticking with the throws group, Sommers moved to eighth in program history in the shot put with a mark of 14.75 meters. That was the top throw in the field.
Lane Hagens finished fourth with a mark of 13.99 meters, while
Tess Van Dyk claimed sixth with a throw of 13.35 meters. Sommers followed that up with a PR in the hammer throw, collecting a mark of 51.51 meters. Van Dyk closed out the throws events with a discus throw of 42.72 meters.
Moving back to the distance events, the 800m crew was on top of their game.
Kaelin Hughes paced the Broncos with a time of 2:14.01.
Rebekah Asselin (2:15.27) and
Joy Evans (2:18.45) were right behind her. To close out the distance events,
Ava Kurczewski was able to grab fourth in the 1500 with a time of 4:29.65. She was followed by
Emma Henkel (4:31.48), Asselin (4:38.04),
Lillian Zelasko (4:41.06), Hughes (4:45.48) and Evans (4:45.51).
Looking at the sprints/hurdles/jumps group,
Soniya Jones was able to win the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.59.
Laurie-Ann Desormes wasn't too far behind, securing a time of 12.22. Then, in the 100-meter hurdles,
Sandra Ferrari (13.83),
Mabinty Kebe (13.90) and
Jade Celestine (14.32) all finished in the top seven.
In the 200-meter dash,
Laurine Elisa Marimon posted a time of 27.62. After that,
Mickaliliah Vassell placed third with a 400-meter hurdles time of 1:01.61. Celestine took seventh with a time of 1:03.89.
Ferrari and
Layla Wallace performed well in the long jump, recording marks of 6.02 meters and 5.32 meters, respectively.
Anichka Malachi then had a season-best mark of 12.04 meters in the triple jump.
To close out the weekend, WMU's 4x100 relay team earned the top spot in the field with a time of 46.43. Jones, Kebe, Desormes and Vassell made up the Bronco quartet.
UP NEXT
Western Michigan will turn its attention to the MAC Championships, which are set for May 14-16. Ball State will serve as the host for the conference meet this season.
