VALLEY CITY, ND (VCSUVikings.com) VCSU’s Kendra Odegard and Jaiden Peraza both qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships during the Dr. Tom Johnson Open this weekend.
Odegard unleashed the top javelin throw in the enter NAIA this season as she won the women’s event with a mark of 45.03 meters. That hits the NAIA “A” Standard and automatically qualifies her for the national meet May 22-24 in Marion, Ind. Odegard currently leads the entire NAIA by 9 feet with her top throw.
Peraza earned his spot at nationals in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.02 meters to win the event Saturday in Bismarck. That hit the NAIA “B” Standard and qualifies Peraza for the national meet in May. Peraza is coming off an Indoor All-American honor in high jump as he placed 4th at the NAIA Indoor Championships earlier this season.
Odegard’s and Peraza’s performances highlighted VCSU’s weekend at the Dr. Tom Johnson Open, hosted by the University of Mary. VCSU’s throwers did the hammer and javelin on Friday in Valley City, and then the remainder of the meet was held Saturday in Bismarck.
VCSU athletes combined to win seven events at the meet, including three by the men and four by the women. The Viking women racked up 130 team points and placed second out of five teams. The Viking men scored 78 points and placed fourth.