Northwestern College announces Olson Wins the Long Jump, Climbs to Second in GPAC Rankings at Red Raider Open
From April 24, 2023 post.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Cold, wind, sleet, snow, and even white out conditions would make some second guess whether it was really late April in Iowa. Others would buckle down, put on their warmest clothes, and do what needed to be done. Those others were the NWC Raiders. The track and field meet, spread over two consecutive days, was ran by NWC, and assisted through a multitude of volunteers that cannot be thanked enough for their effort and willingness to help in less than ideal conditions. But their willingness to help paid off.
On Saturday, when the majority of the events took place, Charlee Olson would take home the win in the long jump, with a career best of 5.26m or 17' 3.25" on her very first jump. This jump would also place her in second place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference rankings going into the final regular season meet next week. Around the same time was the high jump, where Jacie Vander Waal would yet again win the competition, her 8th win across her collegiate career. She would tie her season best of 1.65m or 5'5", and remin tied for 1st in GPAC rankings, of which she won the indoor competition. The final jump to be contested was the pole vault, that due to safety reasons was moved indoors Friday afternoon. Erin Hulberg finished in 4th place, clean over her first four bars, and finished at a height of 3.25m or 10' 8". Colleen Rypkema would hit yet another lifetime best in the event. Two weeks ago she would PR at 2.69m, and here should would jump a massive 2.80m or 9' 2.25" to finish in 9th place.
The throws would finish off the field events for the Raider women. Jordan Bjork while finishing 20th in the Hammer Throw, would PR in the event on her first attempt to 35.65m or 116' 11". After the hammer on Friday, Bjork returned Friday evening for the javelin where, on her 6th and final attempt, she would finish in 4th place with a throw of 30.22m 99' 2", half a meter off her lifetime best from the USD meet. She would be just ahead of Grace Reginald who hit her season best mark of 26.96m, or 88'5" in the blizzarding conditions. The javelin throw would have 3rd place claimed by Grace Hendrickson who also threw her farthest on her final attempt of the competition, finishing at 31.23m or 102'5". In the discus throw, Molly Schany would have the highest finish for the women at 5th place, with a final throw of 37.49m or 123' 0". In the shot put competition, Emily Kraft was the lone Raider to make the finals, and finished in 9th place, with a season best throw of 11.35m or 37' 3".
Friday and Saturday's running events would have plenty of top 10 finishes for the Raiders. First up on Friday was the 5,000m run where Emily Haverdink would have the top finish for the women. She would come across the line in 18:59.82, just ahead of teammates Emma Haley in 4th, and Caitlin Alberts in 5th. Haley would finish in 19:33.27, and Alberts in 19:43.26. the final distance race to be contested was the 1500m run, where Abby Ervin sat at 7th place overall in a time of 5:21.57, one spot ahead of Lauren Derscheid, in 8th, with a time of 5:25.29. Lauren Jurrens ran a PR of that distance in 5:31.29, as would Mikayla Johnson in 5:40.55, and Morgan Ritz in 5:51.90.
The distances became shorter with the 800m having Emma Wilson fighting the gusts of wind and flurries of snow to finish in 8th place. Shortly after, in the 400m hurdles, Abigail Clarke won with a final time of 1:06.73, seconds ahead of the rest of the competitors. Likewise in the open 400m dash, Kennedy Kramer won the competition again, this time by nearly 4 seconds. She would be followed closely by Jasmine Lux finshing 4th in 1:03.76. The final two sprint events to be contested for the Raiders were the 100m Hurdles and 100m open. Hendrickson, back from her javelin competition the day before, would coincidentatly finish in 3rd place in both races. In the 100h, she would be followed just behind by Addison Wierda in 4th place, and led by Emma Zoet who would win the hurdle competition.
Raider Top - 10
100m Dash
- Grace Hendrickson 13.40 – 3rd
400m Dash
- Kennedy Kramer 57.88 – 1st
- Jasmine Lux 1:03.76 – 4th
800m Run
- Emma Wilson 3:10.40
100Hurdles
- Emma Zoet 16.17 – 1st
- Grace Henrickson 17.17 – 3rd
- Addison Wierda 19.09 – 4th
400m Hurdles
- Abigail Clarke 1:06.73 – 1st
High Jump
- Jacie Vander Waal 1.65m – 1st
Pole Vault
- Erin Hulberg 3.25m – 4th
- Colleen Rypkema 2.80m – 9th
Long Jump
- Charlee Olson 5.26m – 1st
Shot Put
- Emily Kraft 11.35m – 9th
Discus
- Molly Schany 37.49m – 5th
Javelin
- Grace Hendricskson 31.23 – 3rd
- Jordan Bjork 30.22 – 4th
- Grace Reginald 26.96 – 8th
Raider Rankings in the NAIA:
- High Jump: 8th - 1.65m
Up Next: The Men's and Women's track and field teams will have a couple competitions this week. Most of the team will be going to the Mount Marty Invite in Yankton, S.D. on Wednesday April 26th, as the final regular season meet. Then, the Men's and Women's 4x400m Relay, Men's 4x100m Relay, and a couple individual event athletes will be competing at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday and Saturday, April 28th and 29th.
Original source can be found here.