Muller, Skanes win at Dutcher Memorial
CRETE, Neb. – Sophomore Kara Muller and freshman Imani Skanes snagged individual event victories on Sunday, the final day of the three-day James Dutcher Memorial track & field meet on the campus of Doane University.
Muller went wire to wire to win the 1,500 in 4:48.66, becoming a double-individual winner in the meet after capturing the 5,000 on Wednesday. Olivia Elbert was just behind in third with her first sub-5:00 clocking at 4:57.25, and Corinne Mead grabbed fourth in 5:05.23.
Skanes won the long jump at 5.44 meters (17 feet, 10¼ inches). She also placed sixth in the 100 final in 12.54.
Skanes led off the 4 x 100 relay, which ran 48.72 for second place and broke the program record of 48.75 set last year. Joining Skanes in the record-setting relay were Mikaiya Rodgers, Ava Hilger and Mackenzie Stanley. The Flames cracked the top 50 in the nation with the performance and are currently 48th.
Freshman Rayna Apley turned in another strong performance, tying her program-best in the high jump of 1.62 meters (5-3¾) for the third time this season en route to a third-place finish. She also set a program record in the 100 hurdles prelim of 15.79, and then placed fourth in the finals at 15.90.
"Rayna is quietly putting together the best, most consistent season we have ever seen in the two events: high jump and 100 hurdles,'' CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "She has also had great looks at the national 'B' qualifying height (in the high jump).''
Gordon said the throwers also have been making big strides.
"Our throwers have been on fire this week, capping off the four-day protracted Dutcher Invite schedule with Syd'ney Birch-George making the shot put final (placing ninth at 12.11/39-8¾), and a couple of long-awaited, hard-earned shot put PRs from Tavia Williams (11.98/39-3¾) and Georgia Carroll (11.74/38-6¼), both just narrowly missing the final.''
The CSM head coach said it was another outstanding meet for his squad.
"The way that this team has rolled with the punches of Midwestern weather, strange meet schedules and interrupted training due to all of that is incredible,'' he said. "I am so proud of the resilience of these young ladies. Even through all of that they continue to perform competitively week after week, against stiff conference competition, while rewriting our program records.''
Here are all of Sunday's CSM results:
100 prelims: 4, Imani Skanes 12.32; 9, Mackenzie Stanley 12.75
100 final: 6, Imani Skanes 12.54
200: 7, Ava Hilger 26.26; 10, Lilly Nelson 27.12
400: 5, Lilly Nelson 1:04.78; 8, Josie Pogge 1:09.74; 9, Natalie Briggs 1:10.13
1,500: 1, Kara Muller 4:48.66; 3, Olivia Elbert 4:57.25; 4, Corinne Mead 5:05.23; 7, Evie Kelly 5:23.01; 8, Kaitlyn Thalman 5:49.27
100 hurdles prelim: 7, Rayna Apley 15.79; 10, Allison Isaacson 16.58; 14, Ava Daro 18.32
100 hurdles final: 4, Rayna Apley 15.90
4 x 100 relay: 2, CSM (Imani Skanes, Mikaiya Rodgers, Ava Hilger, Mackenzie Stanley) 48.72
High jump: 3, Rayna Apley 1.62 (5-3¾)
Pole vault: 7, Phoenix Jensen 2.83 (9-3¼)
Long jump: 1, Imani Skanes 5.44 (17-10¼); 3, Allison Isaacson 5.30 (17-4¾); 5, Mikaiya Rodgers 5.20 (17- ¾); 6, Kayla Briggs 5.13 (16-10); 7, Avah VanArsdale 5.00 (16-5); 17, Ireland Todd 3.68 (12-1)
Triple jump: 5, Imani Skanes 11.00 (36-1¼); 6, Gozie Okafor 10.89 (35-8¾); 9, Kayla Briggs 10.51 (34-5¾)
Shot put: 9, Syd'ney Birch-George 12.11 (39-8¾); 10, Tavia Williams 11.98 (39-3¾); 12, Georgia Carroll 11.74 (38-6¼)
Hammer: 7, Clare Ullery 46.23 (151-8); 21, Caitlyn Klems 33.49 (109-10)
CSM returns to action Thursday at the Prairie Wolf Invite in Lincoln, Neb.