FARGO, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State University freshman Bryeann Robertson punched her ticket to the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships with a personal-best throw in the women’s shot put Saturday afternoon.

Robertson recorded a throw of 13.10 meters (42 feet, 11.75 inches) as she placed third at the NDSU Bison Open. Her mark – the top throw in the North Star Athletic Association this season – matched the NAIA “B” standard to qualify for the national meet March 1-3. She is the second Viking to qualify for nationals this season, joining senior Megan Johnson (long jump) on the qualifying list for Pittsburg, Kan.

Robertson’s performance highlighted a meet that also saw the Viking team set three new school records and tally six Top 5 finishes against tough competition in Fargo.

“With this being the fourth weekend in a row of competition for the majority of our athletes, I was very pleased with the performances across the board,” said head coach Chris Johnson. “Having a freshman in Bryeann Robertson qualify for nationals is such a huge accomplishment, and we’re very excited to have at least two athletes competing in Pittsburg. Now it is on to conference prep and making sure our athletes perform their best when the lights are brightest.”

The indoor season for VCSU is winding down as several Vikings will compete at the SDSU Indoor Classic Feb. 9-10 in Brookings, S.D. The majority of the team won’t be back in action until the North Star Athletic Association Indoor Championships on Feb. 17 in Brookings.

Valley City State broke three more records this weekend at the Bison Open. Macy Dimler topped her 60 meter hurdle record from earlier this season, recording a time of 9.70 as she placed eighth.

The Vikings also set a pair of the records in the seldom-run 300 meter dash. Lenzel Koskela broke the men’s record with a time of 36.31, placing fourth overall. He topped the old record of 37.53 set by Oscar Suniga in 2017. Allyssa Weitkum set the 300 record on the women’s side, crossing the line in a time of 44.48 to place fourth.

Other Top 5 finishes for the Vikings went to Joel DelaCruz and Casey Engelhard on the men’s side. DelaCruz ran a 7.12 in the 60-meter dash to place fourth. Casey Engelhardjumped 6.74 meters in long jump (22 feet, 1.5 inches) to place fifth.

On the women’s side, Keauna Hansen placed fifth in the 300 meter dash, finishing just .28 seconds behind Weitkum’s school record.

Up next: Valley City State will send some athletes to the SDSU Indoor Classic on Feb. 9-10. Following that is the NSAA Indoor Multi-Event Championships, Feb. 11-12 in Jamestown. The NSAA Indoor Championships will be held Feb. 17 in Brookings, S.D.

 

NDSU Bison Open – VCSU Results

National Qualifier:

Bryeann Robertson – Women’s Shot Put (13.10 M./42’11.75″) – Matches NAIA “B” Standard Qualifying Mark of 13.10 M. – Currently Ranked 1^st in NSAA and 22^nd in Entire NAIA

School Records Broken:

Macy Dimler – Women’s 60 M. Hurdles (9.70) – Broke Her Own Record of 9.73 from UND Open

Lenzel Koskela – Men’s 300 M. Dash (36.31) – Broke Record of 37.53 Set by Oscar Suniga in 2017

Allyssa Weitkum – Women’s 300 M. Dash (44.48) – Set New Record

Top 10 Finishes – VCSU Men

Joel DelaCruz – Men’s 60 M. Dash (4^th, 7.12)

Lenzel Koskela – Men’s 60 M. Dash (10^th, 7.31), Men’s 300 M. Dash (4^th, 36.31)

Jacob Furlott – Men’s 60 M. Dash (9^th, 7.29), Men’s 300 M. Dash (8^th, 37.02)

Dylan Olson – Men’s 3000 M. Run (10^th, 9:07.87)

Damion Scandrick II – Men’s 60 M. Hurdles (10^th, 8.89)

Alex Otto – Men’s High Jump – (9^th, 1.90 M./6’2.75″)

Casey Engelhard – Men’s Long Jump – (5^th, 6.74 M./22’1.5″)

Ben Novak – Men’s Triple Jump – (7^th, 13.51 M./44’4″)

Joshua Lawyer – Men’s Shot Put – (7^th, 13.87 M./45’6.25″)

Roy Allen – Men’s Weight Throw – (8^th, 14.38 M./47’2.25″)

Top 10 Finishes – VCSU Women

Allyssa Weitkum – Women’s 300 M. Dash (4^th, 44.48), Women’s 400 M. Dash (9^th, 1:02.37)

Keauna Hansen – Women’s 300 M. Dash (5^th, 44.76)

Macy Dimler – Women’s 300 M. Dash (6^th, 45.95), Women’s 60 M. Hurdles (8^th, 9.70)

Emma Gamache – Women’s 300 M. Dash (7^th, 46.75)

Kathleen Kilfoyle – Women’s 300 M. Dash (8^th, 46.96)

Megan Johnson – Womens High Jump (T-10^th, 1.50 M./4’11”)

Courtney Bubach – Women’s Long Jump (10^th, 4.75 M./15’7″)

Bryeann Robertson – Women’s Shot Put (3^rd, 13.10 M./42’11.75″)

Kari Fritel – Women’s Shot Put (7^th, 12.27 M./40’3.25″)