Sioux City, Iowa & Lawrence, Kan. – The Dakota Wesleyan Tiger track team divided and conquered competing at both the Sioux City Relays and the Kansas Relays. The distance team including Wyatt Baldauf, Caleb Sayler, Hunter Shanks and Justin Sorensen have been making most of the noise and impact for the DWU track & xc teams, but this weekend was highlighted by Lila Gronseth moving into 4th all-time in the Discus and qualifying for Nationals with her National "B" Standard toss of 42.81m. Also, newcomer and freshman Taliyah Hayes made quite the splash at the Sioux City Relays coming in the top-10 all-time in both the high jump and triple jump in just her second meet of her collegiate career. The two teams turned in a staggering 14 personal career best times/marks and four top-10 all-time finishes. The DWU women's track team was responsible for 11 of the 14 times and marks.
Individual Results – Click on the link to see all individual results from the Sioux City Relays & Kansas Relays
Individual Standouts (School/Personal Records/Top finishes) –
Women's Team:
Lila Gronseth – Discus- 42.81m (4th all-time & National "B" Standard)
Taliyah Hayes – HJ- 1.50m (10th all-time) & TJ- 10.62m (10th all-time)
Avany Long – 100H- 16.43 (Tied career best & 6th all-time)
Deandrea Johnson – 200m- 28.17 (PR) & 100m- 13.18 (PR)
Samantha Kludt – HT- 33.85m (PR) & Discus- 26.13m (PR)
Ashtyn Evans – TJ- 10.28m (Tied career best)
Erynn Gerlach – 200m- 27.00 (PR)
Annika Vermeulen – 800m- 2:38.12 (PR)
Men's Team:
Cobey Carr – TJ- 13.08m (PR)
Chase Cermak – 200m- 23.79 (PR)
Nate Rupprecht – 400H- 1:00.50 (PR)
Coaches Quotes:
Matt Rosado on the Sioux City Relays meet:
When I look back on the day a lot of great things happen for us. Lila's B standard in the discus was the obvious highlight. But Erynn dropping .35 in the 200 was huge for her while also taking 4th in the 400m in an outdoor best. Taliyah had two big performances in the High Jump and Triple jump. Chase putting together two weekends of good 200m races was big for him. Cale and Cobey rallying in the last of their jumps in triple to save the day to finish 2nd and 4th. Avany also executed on a lot of things we've been working on to run a season beat. We are starting to hit our stride here in the later part of the season.