FOREST CITY, IA. (vcsuvikings.com) – Peyton Halverson and Kyle Odegard won conference titles Thursday as the VCSU track and field teams competed at the NSAA Championships in Forest City, Iowa.
Odegard threw a season-best 61.90 meters to win the men’s javelin title, while Halverson launched a toss of 33.53 to win the women’s javelin.
It is the third career conference title for Odegard, who beat second place by more than 22 feet on Thursday. Odegard’s throw on Thursday ranks him No. 4 in the nation. A two-time All-American, Odegard has qualified to compete at the NAIA National Championships later this month in Gulf Shores, Ala.
It is the first career conference title for Halverson, who is a senior in her last year of competition. She won a tightly-contested women’s javelin event, narrowly edging second place by two feet.
Valley City State’s men sit in third place with 34 points after day one. The Viking women are in fourth place with 32 points. A total of eight events have been scored. The top six finishers at the NSAA Championships earn team points, while the top three individuals in each event – and the top two relays – earn All-Conference honors.
The Vikings finished Thursday with five All-Conference performances. Freshman Jasmine Barnes placed second in the women’s 10,000 meter run. Freshman Cody Fuchs was third in the men’s 400 meters, finishing in a time of 49.87 seconds. Zachary Co placed third in the men’s hammer throw with his top mark of 48.78 meters.
Taylor Sargent (100 hurdles), Clay Kummer (110 hurdles), Brooke Malsom (women’s 100 meters) and JT Reed (men’s 100 meters) all qualified for the finals of their respective events to be held on Friday.
Up next: Day 2 of the NSAA Championships starts at 10 a.m. today in Forest City.
NSAA Championships – Day 1
Forest City, Iowa
Team Results – Through 8 Events
Men: 1. Dickinson, 90; 2. Dakota State, 79; 3. Valley City State, 34; 4. Viterbo, 14; 5. Waldorf, 11; 6. Bellevue, 6
Women: 1. Dickinson, 74; 2. Viterbo, 65; 3. Dakota State, 62; 4. Valley City State, 32; 5. Waldorf 13
VCSU Men – Top 6 Finishers
400 meters: 3. Cody Fuchs, 49.87
10,000 meters: 5. Bryce Nelson, 37:49.10
Hammer throw: 3. Zachary Co, 48.78 meters
Javelin: 1. Kyle Odegard, 61.90 meters; 5. Alex Otto, 47.62 meters
Pole vault: 6. Hayden Thingvold, 3.35 meters
Triple jump: 6. Garrett Ward, 12.81 meters
4×800 Relay: 3. VCSU, 8:48.39 (Femling, Wheeling, Goldade, Nelson)
VCSU Women – Top 6 Finishers
10,000 meters: 2. Jasmine Barnes, 44:46.39
Hammer throw: 5. Hannah Gordon, 40.71 meters
Javelin: 1. Peyton Halverson, 33.53 meters; 4. Hannah Gordon, 31.63 meters
4×800 Relay: 4. VCSU, 11:21.58 (Lauf, Vasicek, Ishizaka, Weitkum)
Pentathlon: 4. Taylor Sargent