It was not a practice session Saturday night for the Kansas Wesleyan women who compete in the 800 meters. Looking at the results of the race, though, you might have thought that was the case.
The first two runners and seven of the top eight across the finish line wore KWU uniforms in the event that concluded their competition in the Coyotes Classic at JRI Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The pack of Coyotes sprinting to the finish was impressive enough but also consider the top four – Kristin Hackney,
Delaney Bond,
Hailey Nordhus and
Shelby Lingle – did so in personal best times. Hackney was first in 2:16.38, Bond second in 2:16.74, Nordhus fourth in 2:17.35 and
Shelby Lingle fifth in 2:19.92.
Technically, the third-place finisher
Tabetha Hiser (2:16.86) counts as well. She was a former KWU standout and is an assistant coach.
Ava Kenyon placed sixth (2:22.06),
Lauryn Mikkelson seventh (2:23.78),
Makayla Little eighth (2:28.35) and
Joni Schroeder ninth (2:30.44).
Emma McAlister was 13th (2:32.08).
"That was a big one there at the end," head coach
Kyle Hiser said of the event. "That group was a really fun way to cap off the night."
The Coyotes were almost as dominant in the 1,500-meter run with five placing among the top nine – Little second (4:59.76), Schroeder third (5:01.17), McAlister fifth (5:06.77),
Micah Dickens sixth (5.11.38) and
Charlee Lind ninth (5:20.62).
Hiser was particularly pleased with
Aunisty McNeal's work in the field events, most notably the discus where she placed fourth with a personal record of 127 feet, 10 inches. She was third in the javelin with a throw of 109-8.
"It was cool to see a Salinan have success," Hiser said of McNeal, a Salina South High School product. "She's been having a littlebit of tough year. She needed to get a mark on the board, a little improvement. She threw the javelin alright as well, but that discus was a big mark for her out there today."
Elizabeth Stout placed 11th in the discus (108-1) and Roselyn Torres 16th (85-5).
The 4x100-meter relay team of
Corinne Hall,
Emorie McNabb,
Paige Smith and
Dahn Hanlon finished third in 50.63 seconds – the third fastest time in school history.
"We had a new order that we haven't really ran," Hiser said. "Threw it together this last week, they ran the third fastest time in school history and it was with a bunch of jumpers and one sprinter, so it was fun to see that."
McNabb also finished third in the 200 meters (26.40) and was fourth in the 100 meters (12.81).
Elizabeth Stout placed third in the shot put with a personal best 39-9.25 while
Jadyn Mabry was ninth (35.2) and McNeal 10th (34-10.5).
Kierra Jensen finished third in the 5,000 meters (19:11.17).
Smith finished third in the high jump (5-3.75), Hall fourth (4-11.75) and
Trinity Windle fifth (4-11.75).
Stout also placed fifth in the hammer (133-0), Roselyn Torres 16th (100-3) and McNeal 17th (99-10).
Hall was third in the long jump (17-6) and Hanlon sixth (16-3.75). Hanlon was also fifth in the triple jump (33-0.5).
The Coyotes will compete in the Alex Francis Classic on Thursday at Fort Hays State.
"That senior group has created history for us," Hiser said. "We won our first ever men's indoor conference title with that group of seniors. Last year, that group of women won the conference championships in cross country. Over the last four years they've given us the most consistent top finishes at the (Kansas) Conference championships that we've seen in a four-year span. Those seniors really helped raise the bar of what it means to be a Kansas Wesleyan Coyote and a member of this track team."
