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N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- After a weekend off, the Valley City State track & field teams were back at it Saturday with the Al Bortke Open track meet in Bismarck, N.D.
The Vikings recorded 28 Top 10 finishes at the meet, which was hosted by the University of Mary and featured most of the area’s NAIA and NCAA Division II schools.
“We were fortunate to have good weather for the second meet in a row and the overwhelming majority of our student-athletes took advantage of the prime conditions,” said VCSU coach Chris Johnson. “Although we did not add any new national qualifiers, I was pleased with the development across the board with our performances. Many of our athletes are on the brink of breaking through in their events and this will provide a great deal of excitement as we approach the middle of the outdoor season.”
Viking sophomore Seri Geisler had a big day in the women’s javelin, winning the meet by more than 50 feet and setting new meet and facility records. Geisler’s winning throw of 49.79 meters (163’4″) is the top throw in the NAIA this season and set new records for both the Al Bortke Open meet and the facility in Bismarck: the MDU Resources Community Bowl. (Both records were previously held by LeeAnn Pekovitch of Minot State, who threw 152 feet, 5 inches in 2005.)
Geisler also placed third in the women’s shot put for a strong double on the day. Finishing ahead of Geisler was Viking sophomore Mackenzie Huber, who recorded a throw of 12.98 meters to place second in the women’s shot put. She was the top team finisher in the event, trailing only an unattached throw from University of North Dakota. Huber also put up a strong double with a fifth place finish in the women’s discus throw.
In the men’s javelin, VCSU freshman Garret Roemmich placed second with a throw of 50.34 meters (165’2″) and was the top NAIA finisher in the event. He also took eighth in the men’s discus.
In the men’s 100 meter dash, Isaiah Tivis ran a time of 11.09 seconds, which is the fastest time by a Viking runner since 1995. Tivis placed seventh in the event and also finished seventh in the 200 meter dash.
In the women’s triple jump, Megan Johnson placed sixth with the farthest jump by a Viking since Daneille Olson set the school record back in 1998. Johnson’s mark of 10.96 meters (35’11.5″) places her second in the Viking record book. Johnson also placed fifth in the long jump on Saturday.
Up next: Valley City State will send some athletes to the Northern State Twilight Meet on April 13, and then will bring the full squad to the Blue Hawk Games on April 14 in Dickinson.
Individual Meet Champions
– Seri Geisler (Women’s Javelin)
– Mackenzie Huber (Top Attached Competitor in Women’s Shot Put)
Records Broken
– Seri Geisler: Women’s Javelin – 49.79 M. (163’4″) (U-Mary Marauder/Al Bortke Open Meet Record, MDU Resources Community Bowl Record, Currently #1 in the NAIA) (Finished 15.43 M. (50’7″) ahead of second place finisher in event)
Top 10 Performances
– Isaiah Tivis (7th – Men’s 100 M. Dash, 7th – Men’s 200 M. Dash)
– Lenzel Koskela (10th – Men’s 100 M. Dash)
– Royce Brawley (10th – Men’s 400 M. Dash)
– Niklas Ernst (4th – Men’s 400 M. Hurdles)
– Orin Rambow (7th – Men’s 800 M. Run)
– Dennis Gonzalez (7th – Men’s 1500 M. Run, 8th – Men’s 3000 M. Run)
– Geneva Espinoza (9th – Women’s 1500 M. Run)
– Ellwood Ellenson (10th – Men’s Long Jump, 6th – Men’s Javelin)
– Megan Johnson (5th – Women’s Long Jump, 6th – Women’s Triple Jump)
– Macy Dimler (8th – Women’s 100 M. Hurdles)
– Kaitlin Connor (10th – Women’s Long Jump, 8th – Women’s Triple Jump)
– Garret Roemmich (8th – Men’s Discus, 2nd – Men’s Javelin)
– Seri Geisler (3rd – Women’s Shot Put, 1st – Women’s Javelin)
– Mackenzie Huber (2nd – Women’s Shot Put, 5th – Women’s Discus)
– Marilyn Quintero (6th – Women’s Discus)
– Joshua Lawyer (8th – Men’s Shot Put)
– Spencer Aune (10th – Men’s Javelin)
– Men’s 4×400 M. Relay “A” – 5th
– Men’s 4×400 M. Relay “B” – 8th
Collegiate Career/Yearly/Outdoor Season Bests
– Isaiah Tivis (Men’s 100 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best, Men’s 200 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Brady Morden (Men’s 100 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Lenzel Koskela (Men’s 200 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Keauna Hansen (Women’s 200 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Macy Dimler (Women’s 200 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Royce Brawley (Men’s 400 M. Dash – Collegiate Career Best)
– Orin Rambow (Men’s 800 M. Run – Collegiate Career Best)
– Geneva Espinoza (Women’s 1500 M. Run – Collegiate Career Best)
– Megan Johnson (Women’s Triple Jump – Collegiate Career Best)
– Garret Roemmich (Men’s Discus – Collegiate Career Best, Men’s Javelin – Collegiate Career Best)
– Spencer Aune (Men’s Discus – Collegiate Career Best)
– Joshua Lawyer (Men’s Shot Put – Outdoor Season Best)
– Marilyn Quintero (Women’s Discus – Yearly Best)
– Seri Geisler (Women’s Javelin – Yearly Best, Women’s Hammer – Collegiate Career Best)
– Niklas Ernst (Men’s 400 M. Hurdles – Collegiate Career Best)