ABERDEEN, S.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – VCSU junior Zachary Co qualified for nationals in the hammer throw on Saturday during the Northern State Spring Open in Aberdeen, S.D.

Co unleashed a top throw of 53.43 meters during the meet, setting a new personal record by more than nine feet and surpassing the NAIA ‘A’ Standard of 53.00 meters. Co’s performance was good for second place at the large meet that had more than 40 athletes in some of the throwing events.

He also threw a new personal outdoor record in the shot put on Saturday with his meet-winning toss of 17.06 meters. That ranks him fifth nationally in the NAIA.

Co has now punched his ticket to compete in both the shot put and hammer throw at the NAIA National Meet from May 26-28 in Gulf Shores, Ala. Teammate Kyle Odegard has also qualified to compete in the javelin.

The Viking track and field team had 12 Top 8 finishes on Saturday at the large Northern State Open, which mainly featured NCAA Division II schools. On the women’s side, Brooke Malsom placed third in the both the 100 and 200 meter races, and added a fifth-place finish in the long jump. Peyton Halverson took fifth place in women’s javelin with a toss of 36.81 meters.

For the Viking men, Co led the way with three Top 8 finishes. He won the shot put, placed second in hammer throw and finished fifth in the discus. Clay Kummer ran a strong race in the 400 hurdles to place third, and he added a seventh-place finish in the 110 hurdles. Odegard finished third in men’s javelin with his throw of 55.58 meters. Alex Otto took home two Top 8 finishes, placing second in the high jump and eighth in the javelin.

Up next: Valley City State is scheduled to compete at the MSU-Moorhead Ron Masanz Classic on Saturday, May 1.

Northern State Spring Open
Saturday, April 24 – Aberdeen, S.D.

VCSU Women – Top 8 Finishers
100 Meters: 3. Brooke Malsom, 12.66
200 Meters: 3. Brooke Malsom, 26.06
Long Jump: 5. Brooke Malsom, 5.43 meters
Javelin: 5. Peyton Halverson, 36.81 meters

VCSU Men – Top 8 Finishers
110 Hurdles: 7. Clay Kummer, 15.95
400 Hurdles: 3. Clay Kummer, 57.13
High Jump: 2. Alex Otto, 1.90 meters
Shot put: 1. Zachary Co, 17.06 meters
Discus: 5. Zachary Co, 43.79 meters
Hammer Throw: 2. Zachary Co, 53.43 meters (National Qualifier – ‘A’ Standard)
Javelin: 3. Kyle Odegard, 55.58 meters, 8. Alex Otto, 46.06 meters