Women's Track and Field Monday, April 24, 2023 NWC Athletic Communications

Olson Wins the Long Jump, Climbs to Second in GPAC Rankings at Red Raider Open

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 8^th win across her collegiate career. She would tie her season best of 1.65m or 5'5", and remin tied for 1^st 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 4^th 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 9^th place.

The throws would finish off the field events for the Raider women. Jordan Bjork, while finishing 20^th 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 6^th and final attempt, she would finish in 4^th 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 3^rd 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 5^th 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 9^th 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 4^th, and Caitlin Alberts in 5^th. 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 7^th place overall in a time of 5:21.57, one spot ahead of Lauren Derscheid, in 8^th, 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 8^th 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 4^th 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 3^rd place in both races. In the 100h, she would be followed just behind by Addison Wierda in 4^th place, and led by Emma Zoet who would win the hurdle competition.

Raider Top - 10
100m Dash

Grace Hendrickson 13.40 – 3^rd

400m Dash

Kennedy Kramer 57.88 – 1^st
Jasmine Lux 1:03.76 – 4^th

800m Run

Emma Wilson 3:10.40

100Hurdles

Emma Zoet 16.17 – 1^st
Grace Henrickson 17.17 – 3^rd
Addison Wierda 19.09 – 4^th

400m Hurdles

Abigail Clarke 1:06.73 – 1^st

High Jump

Jacie Vander Waal 1.65m – 1^st

Pole Vault

Erin Hulberg 3.25m – 4^th
Colleen Rypkema 2.80m – 9^th

Long Jump

Charlee Olson 5.26m – 1^st

Shot Put

Emily Kraft 11.35m – 9^th

Discus

Molly Schany 37.49m – 5^th

Javelin

Grace Hendricskson 31.23 – 3^rd
Jordan Bjork 30.22 – 4^th
Grace Reginald 26.96 – 8^th

Raider Rankings in the NAIA:
Jacie Vander Waal

High Jump: 8^th - 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 26^th, 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 28^th and 29^th.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

Caitlin Jacobsma: Distance; Sophomore

Abigail Clarke: Hurdles/Mid-Distance; Senior

Abby Ervin: Mid-Distance; Sophomore

Emma Haley: Distance; Sophomore

Grace Hendrickson: Multi; Junior

Erin Hulberg: Pole Vault; Sophomore

Mikayla Johnson: Distance; Sophomore

Lauren Jurrens: Distance; Junior

Emily Kraft: Throws; Junior

Kennedy Kramer: Mid-Distance; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Caitlin Jacobsma
: Sophomore
: Distance

Abigail Clarke
: Senior
: Hurdles/Mid-Distance

Abby Ervin
: Sophomore
: Mid-Distance

Emma Haley
: Sophomore
: Distance

Grace Hendrickson
: Junior
: Multi

Erin Hulberg
: Sophomore
: Pole Vault

Mikayla Johnson
: Sophomore
: Distance

Lauren Jurrens
: Junior
: Distance

Emily Kraft
: Junior
: Throws

Kennedy Kramer
: Sophomore
: Mid-Distance