Relay Team Breaks Record to Open Outdoor Season
KEARNEY, Neb. - Doane women's track and field turned in a standout showing at the Central Nebraska Challenge on Sunday in Kearney, posting event wins, multiple automatic and provisional qualifying marks, and a long list of top finishes against a strong field.
The Tigers were especially sharp in the sprints, where Neryah Hekl led a 1-3-4 finish in the 100 meters. Hekl won the event in 11.87, while RaeAnn Thompson was third in 11.93 and Elizabeth Wemhoff placed fourth in 12.11. Morgan Mahoney also added points for Doane with a 17th-place finish.
Tania Gleason highlighted the 200 meters with an event title and an NAIA B standard, crossing the line in 23.95. Kiley Hejtmanek added another top-10 finish for the Tigers by placing ninth in 25.92.
Doane also had a strong day in the 400 meters, placing three runners in the top eight. Hejtmanek finished runner-up in 57.49, Jayden Meyer took fourth in 57.86, and Danie Parriott came in eighth in 58.90.
In the middle-distance events, Maddy Ramey paced the Tigers in the 800 meters with a ninth-place finish in 2:25.95, while Marissa Miles followed in 13th at 2:27.85. Rilyn Schledewitz, Madison Lytle, Emily Lytle, and Gabby Maryott also competed for Doane.
Laura Hasemann turned in a strong effort in the 1500 meters, placing 13th in 5:09.56. Alison Bradford added an 18th-place finish in 5:17.19, while Grace Colbert, Kenzy Lippold, and Kenzie Spencer also represented the Tigers.
Doane also produced a pair of top-five finishes in the 5000 meters. Kristen Billings placed third in 19:56.70 and Delaney Catron finished fourth in 20:20.32.
The Tigers showed depth in the hurdles as Chaney Nelson placed eighth in both hurdle events. She ran 15.78 in the 100 hurdles and 1:06.50 in the 400 hurdles. Dayle Haake was ninth in the 100 hurdles at 16.02, while Felicia Deumi Nappi followed in 10th at 16.06. In the 400 hurdles, Zaili Benish added a ninth-place finish in 1:07.94, Britta Deden was 11th in 1:12.17, and Alyssa Plock took 12th in 1:14.47.
One of the top performances of the day came in the 4x100 relay, where Doane's A team of RaeAnn Thompson, Tania Gleason, Elizabeth Wemhoff, and Neryah Hekl won the event in 45.39, hitting the NAIA A standard. The team broke the school record set at last year's GPAC Championships by almost a second and sits second in the NAIA.
In the field events, Kyla Davis delivered another headline performance for Doane by winning the triple jump with a mark of 12.04 meters (39-6), good for an NAIA A standard. Rosalyn Roggasch placed third at 11.31 meters, and Addison Fahrnbruch was sixth at 11.07 meters. Halle Knapp also competed for the Tigers with a 13th-place finish.
Doane's pole vaulters also had a productive day. Avery Scott tied for third with a clearance of 3.53 meters (11-7), while Kennedy Stanley tied for seventh at the same height.
In the high jump, Kayley Thompson and Kara Kudlacz tied for sixth after both cleared 1.57 meters (5-1.75). Katelynn Kratz, Kate Roseland, Chaney Nelson, and Madison Vogel each cleared 1.52 meters, while Elenna Koenig and Ashleigh Kirkendall each finished at 1.42 meters.
Addison Fahrnbruch added another major result in the javelin, placing second with a throw of 43.14 meters (141-6), a mark that met the NAIA A standard. Halle Knapp was seventh at 36.36 meters, while Karlee Henning, Kallie Sutton, Madison Heusinkvelt, and Delaney Burge all finished inside the top 15.
The Tigers were outstanding in the throws overall. Madison Heusinkvelt placed second in the shot put with an NAIA B mark of 13.63 meters (44-8.75). Delaney Burge was ninth at 12.45 meters, while Paige Bull and Payton Cast each threw 12.31 meters to finish 11th and 12th. Grace Dean, Natylie Myers, and Jaylen Dimmitt also competed for Doane.
In the discus, Paige Bull turned in one of Doane's best marks of the meet, placing second with an NAIA B throw of 47.03 meters (154-3). Kallie Sutton finished 11th at 42.62 meters, Grace Dean was 16th at 41.27 meters, and Ashley Dierks and Norah Cloudt also scored solid efforts.
Doane's hammer throw group continued the strong day as Kaylie Lotspeich took third with an NAIA B mark of 51.75 meters (169-9). Mia Knigge followed in seventh at 50.21 meters, and Trinity Becher placed eighth at 49.25 meters. Natylie Myers added a 23rd-place finish, while Ashley Dierks, Grace Dean, Paige Bull, and Kiersten Klimek also competed.
In the long jump, Felicia Deumi Nappi led the Tigers with a 13th-place mark of 4.96 meters. Kali Drake, Dayle Haake, Adalin Bosak, Lauren Maly, and Jade Ridgway also competed for Doane.
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