SPEARFISH, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State University track and field team won four events and had 13 Top 3 finishes Saturday during the outdoor season opener at Black Hills State University.

Viking senior Megan Johnson took first place in both the long jump and triple jump, and qualified for nationals in the triple jump with her winning mark of 11.45 meters. Mackenzie Huber won the women’s shot put for VCSU, and Kyle Odegard won the men’s javelin competition.

The Vikings were one of two NAIA teams at the meet, which also included a handful of NCAA Division II schools.

“In spite of some brutal winds on the track, we had strong performances across the board in terms of placing in events,” said head coach Chris Johnson. “Megan’s big triple jump – earning her a trip to nationals – was the highlight of the day, however there were more very promising performances in the throws and jumps as well. With this being the first meet, I am confident that we will continue to build on these performances in the coming weeks.”

Johnson recorded a top mark off 11.45 meters (37-6 3/4) to win the triple jump. It is a career-best mark for her and is the farthest jump in school history since 1998 when Danielle Olson recorded the current school record of 12.40 meters. Johnson’s mark of 11.45 meters tops the NAIA “B” Standard of 11.40 meters, and earns her a spot at the NAIA National Championships May 24-26 in Gulf Shores, Ala. She also won the long jump Saturday with mark of 5.40 meters.

In the throwing events, Mackenzie Huber won the women’s shot put with a mark of 12.84 meters (42-1.5) while Bryeann Robertson placed third after a throw of 11.82 meters (38-9.5). In the women’s hammer throw, Sayge McKrill recorded a mark of 45.34 meters (148-09) to place fourth. That ranks her second in school history behind the school record of 50.29 meters set by Jessica Meland in 2014.

On the track, Allyssa Weitkum picked up at third-place finish in the 800 meters. Kristina Fricke placed sixth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, setting a VCSU record with her time of 13:41.40.

On the men’s side, freshman Kyle Odegard won the men’s javelin during his outdoor debut as a Viking. Odegard unleashed a top throw of 54.66 meters (179-04), which was just 0.34 meters off the national-qualifying distance of 55.00 meters. The Vikings finished 1-2 in the men’s javelin as Garret Roemmich recorded a top mark of 52.57 meters (172-6) to finish second.

Zachary Co had a big throw in men’s shot put as he placed third with a distance of 14.31 meters (46-11.5). In the jumping events, Ben Novak was second in triple jump (13.56 meters/44-6) and Casey Engelhard placed third in the long jump (6.34 meters/20-9.75).

The Viking men had several strong performances on the track as well, highlighted by a 2-3 finish in a competitive 200 meter dash. Jacob Furlott crossed the line in a time of 23.23 to finish second, and teammate Konnor Stueve placed third with a time of 23.46. A total of 19 runners competed in the 200 meter dash.

VCSU senior Lenzel Koskela ran a career-best time in the 400 meter dash, placing third with his time of 49.88 seconds. That is the fastest time by a Viking since 1989 and ranks Koskela fourth in school history.

Up next: Valley City State will take a week off before competing at the Al Bortke Open on April 7 in Bismarck, N.D.

 

VCSU Men Top 8 Finishes

Joel DelaCruz – Men’s 100 M. (5^th), Men’s 200 M. (7^th)

Jacob Furlott – Men’s 100 M. (7^th), Men’s 200 M. (2^nd)

Konnor Stueve – Men’s 200 M. (3^rd)

Damion Scandrick II – Men’s 200 M. (8^th), Men’s 110 M. Hurdles (5^th)

Lenzel Koskela – Men’s 400 M. (3^rd)

Titus Gruanue – Men’s 800 M. (8^th)

Dylan Olson – Men’s 3000 M. Steeplechase (5^th)

Men’s 4×400 M. Relay (Rivera-Mujica, Rambow, Gruanue, Koskela) – 7^th

Alex Otto – Men’s High Jump (6^th)

Casey Engelhard – Men’s Long Jump (3^rd)

Ben Novak – Men’s Triple Jump (2^nd)

Zachary Co – Men’s Shot Put (3^rd)

Roy Allen – Men’s Discus (8^th)

Garret Roemmich – Men’s Hammer (8^th – Second Furthest Thrower in VCSU School History, Furthest Throw at VCSU Since 2012), Men’s Javelin (2^nd)

Kyle Odegard – Men’s Javelin (1^st)

Spencer Aune – Men’s Javelin (6^th)

 

VCSU Women – Top 8 Finishes

Emma Gamache – Women’s 100 M. (7^th)

Julianne Wilson – Women’s 200 M. (8^th)

Keauna Hansen – Women’s 400 M. (6^th)

Allyssa Weitkum – Women’s 800 M. (3^rd)

Macy Dimler – Women’s 100 M. Hurdles (4^th)

Kristina Fricke – Women’s 3000 M. Steeplechase (6^th)

Women’s 4×400 M. Relay (Hansen, Fenske, Wilson, Weitkum) – 6^th

Megan Johnson – Women’s Long Jump (1^st), Women’s Triple Jump (1^st)

Julianne Wilson – Women’s Long Jump (6^th)

Mackenzie Huber – Women’s Shot Put (1^st), Women’s Discus (7^th)

Bryeann Robertson – Women’s Shot Put (3^rd)

Marilyn Quintero – Women’s Discus (4^th – Second Furthest Discus Thrower in VCSU School History, Furthest Throw at VCSU Since 1983), Women’s Hammer (7^th)

Sayge McKrill – Women’s Discus (6^th), Women’s Hammer (4^th – Second Furthest Hammer Thrower in VCSU School History, Furthest Throw at VCSU Since 2014)

Peyton Halverson – Women’s Javelin Throw (6^th)