ORANGE CITY, IOWA (VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State University track and field team added two more national qualifiers on Saturday as the Vikings wrapped up competition at the two-day Red Raider Open hosted by Northwestern College.
Mackenzie Huber (discus) and Carter Buelow (shot put) both hit the NAIA “B” Standard in their respective events Saturday, earning themselves a chance to compete at the NAIA National Championships from May 23-25 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Buelow recorded a personal-best throw of 15.46 meters (50 feet, 8.75 inches) in the men’s shot put Saturday, placing fifth at the large Red Raider Open. It was a huge personal record for Buelow, topping his previous best throw by more than five feet. It also met the NAIA “B” Standard (15.25 meters) to qualify for nationals and is the top throw in the conference this season by more than 18 inches.
In women’s discus, Huber also met the “B” standard with her personal-best toss of 43.37 meters (142 feet, 3 inches) on Saturday. That placed her sixth at the large meet but also ranks her ninth in the nation so far this season. Huber also qualified for nationals in discus last season – placing 19th in the NAIA – and her throw Saturday was two feet better than her top mark in 2018.
Huber and Buelow join five other Vikings who have qualified for nationals this season: Kyle Odegard (javelin), Garret Roemmich (javelin), Dennis Gonzalez (marathon), Dylan Olson (marathon) and Grace Miller (marathon).
Odegard and Roemmich had strong showings in the javelin on Saturday, placing first and second at the Red Raider Open. Both improved on their throws from earlier this season that qualified them for nationals. Odegard had a top throw of 59.83 meters (196 feet, 3 inches) on Saturday to win the event, and Roemmich placed second with his personal-best toss of 58.61 meters (192 feet, 3 inches). The two teammates blew away the competition, with Roemmich’s throw being more than 23 feet farther than third place. Odegard – who placed seventh at nationals last season – is now ranked sixth in the nation this season. Roemmich is now ranked 11th.
Odegard was the only Viking to win an event this weekend, but several athletes placed second or third. Grace Miller broke her own school record in the women’s 10,000 meters as she placed second with a time of 40:33.86. Her time was 43 seconds better than the school record of 41:16.40, which Miller set last season. Also on the women’s side, Peyton Halverson placed second in the javelin throw this weekend with her top throw of 34.83 meters.
Alex Otto placed second in the high jump, clearing 1.95 meters (6-4.75) on Saturday. Otto also placed sixth in the javelin with a throw of 48.37 meters. It was Otto’s first time throwing the javelin as a collegiate athlete. VCSU seniors Dylan Olson and Dennis Gonzalez also added a pair of third-place finishes in the distance events. Gonzalez ran a strong race in the 10,000 meters, missing the national qualifying standard by just 12 seconds with his time of 31 minutes, 57.8 seconds. Olson placed third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with his time of 10 minutes, 29.66 seconds.
Up next: Valley City State athletes will compete Tuesday at the Cobber Twilight Meet hosted by Concordia College. Competition starts at 3 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.
Red Raider Open 2019 – Day 1
VCSU Women – Top 8
10,000 Meters
2. Grace Miller, 40:33.86 (School record)
3,000 Meter Steeplechase
5. Kristina Fricke, 13:30.04
7. Tanya Campos, 14:17.12
Triple Jump
6. Kaitlin Connor, 9.59 meters
Shot Put
5. Mackenzie Huber, 12.74 meters
Discus
6. Mackenzie Huber, 43.37 meters (National Qualifying)
Javelin
2. Peyton Halverson, 34.83 meters
VCSU Men – Top 8
1500 Meters Run
7. Menkeh Mendin, 4:16.75
10,000 Meters
3. Dennis Gonzalez, 31:57.80
3,000 Meter Steeplechase
3. Dylan Olson, 10:29.66
4×400 Relay
6. VCSU, 3:37.08 (Rivera-Mujica, Rambow, Otto, Mattheis)
High Jump
2. Alex Otto, 1.95 meters
Shot Put
5. Carter Buelow, 15.46 meters (National Qualifying)
Javelin
1. Kyle Odegard, 59.83 meters
2. Garret Roemmich, 58.61 meters
6. Alex Otto, 48.37 meters