VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- Three more Vikings qualified for nationals and two more school records fell this weekend as the VCSU track and field team competed at a pair of meets on Friday.
Kyle Odegard and Garret Roemmich punched their tickets to the NAIA National Championships with qualifying throws in men’s javelin, while Megan Johnson qualified for nationals and set a new school record in the women’s long jump. A second school record also fell as Sayge McKrill recorded the top women’s discus throw in school history.
The majority of the VCSU team competed at the Northern State Twilight Meet in Aberdeen, S.D., while Johnson and the rest of the VCSU jumpers competed at the Blue Hawk Games in Dickinson. Valley City State athletes combined to win four events at the two meets.
A few VCSU runners also competed Saturday at the Earth Day Run Half Marathon in St. Cloud, Minn., which included a third-place finish by Louis Leon.
“While this was a historic weekend for several of our student-athletes, we are confident that the coming weeks will bring continued improvement performance-wise and weather-wise,” said VCSU head coach Chris Johnson. “I am proud of all the student-athletes who have been putting in the work on the track despite less than ideal conditions. That determination and focus will pay off in the end.”
Up next: Valley City State is scheduled to compete April 28 at the Ron Masanz Classic in Moorhead, Minn.
Northern State Twilight Meet – Aberdeen, S.D.
VCSU freshman Kyle Odegard recorded the second-farthest javelin throw in school history as he won the meet title and met the NAIA “A” national qualifying standard. Odegard’s mark of 59.73 meters (195 feet, 11 inches) ranks him 7th in the NAIA so far this season.
In VCSU history, Odegard’s throw trails only school record holder Darin Spenst’s top mark of 59.98 meters (196-9) back in 1989.
VCSU went 1-2 in the men’s javelin as Garret Roemmich placed second with a national qualifying mark of 55.30 meters (181-5). Roemmich’s throw meets the “B” standard for nationals and ranks him 15th in the nation.
In the women’s javelin, VCSU freshman Peyton Halverson took home a meet title. Halverson recorded a top throw of 36.99 meters (121-4), topping second place by more than a meter.
The VCSU men’s 4×100 relay team also won their event at the meet. The team of Joel DelaCruz, Lenzel Koskela, Konnor Stueve and Jacob Furlott finished the race in a time of 43.48 seconds, beating teams from Northern State University and MSU-Moorhead.
In women’s discus, Sayge McKrill set a new school record as she tied for second place amongst a competitive field. McKrill’s mark of 41.39 meters (135-9) breaks the previous school record of 41.01 meters (134-8) set by Scheryl Kottsick in 2001. McKrill’s mark highlighted a strong team-wide performance in the women’s discus. Amongst 15 throwers, Valley City State’s women placed 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th.
Northern State Twilight
VCSU Men – Top 5 Finishes
200 Meter Dash
3. Jacob Furlott, 22.85
5. Konnor Stueve, 23.02
3000 Meter Run
5. Aaron Springer, 9:52.49
110 Hurdles
2. Damion Scandrick II, 15.93
400 Hurdles
2. Spencer Mattheis, 1:04.67
4×100 Relay
1. VCSU, 43.48 (DelaCruz, Koskela, Stueve, Furlott)
Shot Put
3. Joshua Lawyer, 13.26 meters
4. Zachary Co, 13.15 meters
Discus
2. Roy Allen, 41.53 meters
3. Garret Roemmich, 41.13 meters
Javelin
1. Kyle Odegard, 59.73 meters (NAIA “A” Standard)
2. Garret Roemmich, 55.30 meters (NAIA “B” Standard)
VCSU Women – Top 5 Finishes
3000 Meters
4. Grace Miller, 11:32.85
100 Hurdles
5. Macy Dimler, 16.22
400 Hurdles
4. Kathleen Kilfoyle, 1:15.13
4×400 Relay
3. VCSU, 4:29.14 (Hansen, Fenske, Wilson, Weitkum)
Shot Put
2. Mackenzie Huber, 12.36 meters
4. Bryeann Robertson, 12.02 meters
Discus
2. Sayge McKrill, 41.39 meters (School record)
4. Mackenzie Huber, 40.66 meters
5. Megan Molash, 39.88 meters
Javelin
1. Peyton Halverson, 36.99 meters
Blue Hawk Games – Dickinson, N.D.
Megan Johnson set a new school record in the women’s long jump and met the NAIA “A” Qualifying Standard to highlight the group of VCSU jumpers who competed Friday at the Blue Hawk Games.
Johnson recorded a leap of 5.80 meters (19 feet, .25 inches) to win the women’s long jump. That broke her own record of 5.57 meters set last season, and ranks her 8th in the NAIA this season.
Johnson also placed third in the women’s high jump at the competition, clearing 1.55 meters.
On the men’s side, Alex Otto cleared 1.93 meters in high jump to place second. Ben Novak jumped 13.88 meters in the triple jump to place seventh amongst a competitive field.
Blue Hawk Games
VCSU Women Top 8 Finishes
Long Jump
1. Megan Johnson, 5.80 meters (School record, NAIA “A” Standard)
High Jump
3. Megan Johnson, 1.55 meters
VCSU Men Top 8 Finishes
High Jump
2. Alex Otto, 1.93 meters
Triple Jump
7. Ben Novak, 13.88 meters
Earth Day Run Half-Marathon – St. Cloud, Minn.
3. Louis Leon, 1:17.21
5. Dylan Olson, 1:19.12
13. Kohlton Peterson, 1:26.00