MOORHEAD, MN (VCSUVikings.com) – Mackenzie Huber had herself a day Wednesday at the Concordia Cobber Twilight Meet. The VCSU junior won two meet titles, set a new school record and punched her ticket to nationals all in the span of a few hours Wednesday in Moorhead.
Huber’s performance highlighted a strong showing by a small group of Viking track and field athletes competing at the mid-week meet.
Viking athletes combined to win three events and had eight Top 3 finishes during the meet that featured athletes from a variety of NAIA and NCAA Division I, II and III schools.
Huber unleashed a school record and national qualifying throw in the women’s discus as she won both the discus and shot put events. Her winning discus throw of 42.73 meters (140-2) met the NAIA “B” standard to qualify for nationals, and broke the school record (41.39 meters) set by teammate Sayge McKrill just five days ago.
Huber is the sixth Viking to qualify for nationals during the outdoor season, joining Megan Johnson (long jump, triple jump), Grace Miller (marathon), Kyle Odegard(javelin), Garret Roemmich (javelin) and Dennis Gonzalez (marathon).
VCSU freshman Ben Novak took home VCSU’s other meet title on Wednesday as he won the men’s triple jump with a career-best mark of 13.95 meters (45-9.25). It is Novak’s second triple jump victory this season.
Another Viking freshman, Peyton Halverson, had a career-best throw in the women’s javelin as she placed second with her mark of 37.49 meters. Freshman Selina Brownalso had a career-best throw in the women’s shot put to place third. Brown’s mark of 11.60 meters was more than a meter better than her previous personal record.
Megan Johnson had a pair of Top 3 finishes in the jumping events, taking second in triple jump and third in long jump.
On the men’s side, Roy Allen placed third with his discus throw of 41.01 meters.
The VCSU track and field teams have now set school records in 21 different events this year between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Up next: Valley City State’s full team is slated to compete Saturday at the Ron Masanz Classic hosted by MSU-Moorhead. Events begin at 10 a.m. in Moorhead, Minn.
Cobber Twilight Results
VCSU Women – Top 5 Finishes
Long Jump
3. Megan Johnson, 5.35 meters
Triple Jump
2. Megan Johnson, 11.04 meters
5. Courtney Bubach, 10.28 meters
Shot Put
1. Mackenzie Huber, 12.61 meters
3. Selina Brown, 11.60 meters
Discus
1. Mackenzie Huber, 42.73 meters (School record, national qualifying throw)
5. Sayge McKrill, 39.98 meters
Javelin
2. Peyton Halverson, 37.49 meters
VCSU Men – Top 5 Finishes
Triple Jump
1. Ben Novak, 13.95 meters
5. Adam Sakry, 12.54 meters
Discus
3. Roy Allen, 41.01 meters