By: Jenia Freewalt, sports information assistant
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana- This weekend, the Beavers left it all out on the track at the 2021 HCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on April 30 and May 1. The team left for Rose-Hulman Friday morning and competed both Friday and Saturday against the tough conference competition.
Head Coach and Director of the Program Kaylea Jachno was excited with how the meet went, saying, "After the culmination of a long year, this team showed up to the championships ready to compete! From the track to the field, athletes were hitting season PRs, lifetime bests, and they took home some hardware. I could not be more proud to have coached this group through this season and championships."
The throws group made some impressive moves this weekend. In the women's discus, sophomore Emma Payne (Hicksville) placed 10th in the conference, throwing a season best of 31.30 meters. Sophomore Michael Lindhorst (Lindsey/Woodmore) placed 10th in the conference on the men's side and he earned a season best of 35.39 meters.
Senior Stephanie Fox (Pickerington/Central) placed 2nd in the hammer throw with a PR of 41.19 meters. Stephanie also placed 4th in the shot put competition with a throw of 10.71 meters and 4th in the discus with a throw of 33.88 meters.
"Stephanie battled to get 18 points for the women's team, which was incredible. She started the weekend with an almost 5m PR to move from 7th in the women's hammer to get silver! The next day she came back to grab 10 points in the shot and discus. In addition to Fox, the men's and women's throwers comprised of freshmen and "true" freshmen gained an additional five points in the women's hammer throw and had additional season PRs, lifetime bests, and moved their placement up at the meet." -Coach Jachno.
In the men's 200 meter dash, freshman Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) placed 7th with a time of 23.33, but PR'd in the prelims with a time of 23.11. Gist also placed 2nd in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.74 following his 15.11 PR in the prelims. Desmond bolted to a 1st place finish in the long jump with a PR of 6.79 meters.
Darrell Briggs, who works with the sprints group, said, "Desmond Gist came back after missing our last two meets to contribute 20 points after only one practice and two massive PRs in the 110 hurdles and long jump. It was a great effort to help lead our men's team!"
On the women's side, sophomore Madalynn Schifer (Bucyrus) placed 8th overall in the women's 100 meter dash with a time of 13.57 but PR'd in the prelims with a time of 13.39.
Coach Briggs is celebrating the present and looking towards the future, saying, "Maddy Schifer battled as our only female sprints athlete at the meet. She had two lifetime bests and snuck a point out in the 100-meter dash. It was a great way to end her sophomore season and bigger things are ahead for her in the coming years!
In the women's 1500 meter race, sophomore Justine Lesniewski (Mantua/Crestwood) placed 10th with a time of 5:23.94, junior Hope Nixon (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) PR'd with a time of 5:30.08 and freshman Tabi Rollman (Toledo/Whitmer) PR'd with a time of 5:47.67.
In the 800 meter race, Lesniewski PR'd with a time of 2:36.97, while Rollman PR'd with a time of 2:57.96.
Assistant Coach Brendon Moody, who directs the distance team, said, "The mid-distance crew shined over the 800m/1500m distances. All three athletes ran personal bests throughout the weekend! Rollman dropped 17 seconds to run 5:47 in the 1500-meter race. Tabi was a 7:46 miler in high school!"
After a successful season, the Beavers take some time off to rest before attacking summer training to get ready for the upcoming cross-country and track seasons. Continuing on, to chase down a national qualifying mark in the 110 hurdles and the long jump is freshman Desmond Gist. Watch as he competes at Hillsdale College May 13 and North Central May 19-20. The national competition is slated for May 27-29.
-BEAVERS-
