Women's Track & Field Takes on the Dordt Indoor Open
Sioux Center, I.A. - The Warriors traveled to Dordt University this weekend to compete in the first meet of the year. The Warriors had a strong showing at the Dordt Invitational, posting 13 personal bests, 7 Top 10 All Time marks in school history, and 1 meet champion.
On the Women's side of things, nearly every performance led to a personal best. First on the track was Erica Palisoc, Alexa Torres, and Brandi Peck in the 60m. The trio had a strong showing, finishing with times of 8.38, 8.49, and 9.27 respectively. Shortly after, Danielle Wood and Marissa O'Connor toed the line for the 3,000m. Wood finished with a time of 12:34.14, her strongest 3k opener of her career and earning herself a spot on the Top 10 All Time list, sitting at 7th. O'Connor finished with a time of 12:46.14 establishing her personal best. Torres and Palisoc came back to compete in the 200m where Torres shaved over a second off her high school outdoor 200m best with a time of 28.92 and Palisoc establishing a personal best of 29.11.
On the field side of things, the lone Warrior of the day was Freshman Justice Battle. Battle opened up her collegiate career with a throw of 9.80 meters, earning herself a spot on the Top 10 All Time list where she currently sits as Waldorf's 7th best female indoor shot putter.
Eliza McKown toed the line to race the mile again where she took the lead from the gun. McKown went on the lead the entire race and win with a time of 5:27.82, finishing five seconds ahead of the next runner. This marks the second time McKown has been an event champion this season. To round out the Women's day, Palisoc, Torres, Peck, and O'Connor ran the 4x200m where they finished with a time of 1:58.12 which earned them a spot as the fourth fastest 4x200m relay team in school history.
The meet kicked off with Jeaceajay Jappah in the pole vault and James Robey in the weight throw. Robey finished with a toss of 12.03. Jappah vaulted for a personal best of 2.65 meters, earning himself another spot on the Waldorf Track & Field Top 10 All Time list, sitting at 6th. Jappah had a quick turn around to compete in the 60 meter hurdle prelims where he qualified for the finals with a time of 9.23. He then went on to run an 8.72, setting a personal best and bettering his time on the Top 10 All Time list. The Warriors had a large showing in the 60 meter with six men competing in the event. Led by Xzayvier Horton with a time of 7.31, Beal finished close behind with a time of 7.40. Not to be outdone, Sunel Fernandez finished with a close time of 7.41, Brunelson Dominique with a time of 7.46, Michael Williams in 8.01 and rounded out by Cody Mayer with a time of 8.29; all of which were personal bests for this quartet of men.
Beal, Fernandez, and Williams all set personal bests in the Indoor 400 meters running times of 55.67, 56.92, and 59.48 respectively. Next on the track was Men's 600m where Dominique just narrowly missed his personal best with a time of 1:37.17 this weekend and Mayer clocking a time of 1:42.85 setting a personal best. On the field side of things, Freshman Cooper Yao had an impressive showing with a best throw of 12.97 in his flight which was good enough to earn him a spot in finals. In the finals, Yao bettered his mark with a toss of 13.39 meters. This throw was a 7.25" improvement upon his high school personal best and earned him a spot on Waldorf's Top 10 All Time List. Yao is currently sitting at 3rd in the record book. The men rounded out the night with the 4x400m. Jappah, Beal, Isaiah Cote, and Dominique finished with a time of 3:43.76.
"I am glad we had the opportunity to compete this weekend. I think we did some things really well and had some great performances from our young athletes. Alexa ran a huge personal best in her 200m bettering her high school best by 1.41 seconds and Cooper threw a 7.25" personal best with the heavier, collegiate weight shot put. I am happy with the direction we are moving and look forward to continuing to get better each week" Head Coach Janna Langrell said.
The Warriors will be back in action this Saturday January 18th at Mount Marty Invitational in Yankton, South Dakota.
Battle, Justice – 9.80 (Shot Put)
McKown, Eliza – 5:27.82 (Mile)
O'Connor, Marissa – 12:46.14 (3,000m) / 1:58.12 (4x200m)
Palisoc, Erica – 8.38 (60m) / 29.11 (200m) / 1:58.12 (4x200m)
Peck, Brandi – 9.27 (60m) / 1:57.14 (600m) / 1:58.12 (4x200m)
Torres, Alexa – 8.49 (60m) / 28.92 (200m) / 1:58.12 (4x200m)
Wood, Danielle – 12:34.14 (3,000m)
Beal, Robert – 7.40 (60m) / 55.83 (400m)
Cote, Isaiah – 3:43.76 (4x400m)
Dominique, Brunelson – 7.46 (60m) / 1:37.17 (600m) / 3:43.76 (4x400m)
Fernandez, Sunel – 7.41 (60m) / 56.92 (400m)
Horton, Xzayvier – 7.31 (60m)
Jappah, Jeaceajay – 9.23 (60mH Prelims) / 8.72 (60mH Finals) / 1.83m (High Jump) / 2.65 (Pole Vault) / 3:43.76 (4x400m)
Mayer, Cody – 8.29 (60m) / 1:42.85 (600m)
Robey, James – 12.03 (Weight Throw)
Williams, Michael – 8.01 (60m) / 59.48 (400m)
Yao, Cooper – 13.39 (Shot Put)