(Spring Arbor, MI) Concordia women's track & field opened their outdoor season at the Bill Bippes Cougar Classic hosted by Spring Arbor University this weekend. The two-day meet featured nine teams including fellow WHAC schools Cleary, Lourdes and Siena Heights University.
Starting the Cardinals off on a high note was freshman Julia Hirt (Hartland, WI) who qualified for the National Christian College Athletic Championships in the discus throw. Hirt threw 35.81m with the discus in her outdoor debut with the Cardinals. Fellow freshman Lena Korte (Clinton, MI), who's the current indoor shot put record holder, tossed 10.78m in the shot put to also break the outdoor record of 10.73m. Korte also went on to throw 27.68m in the discus throw, 22.99m with the javelin, and 32.45m in the hammer throw.
The throws squad continued to make moves with seniors Payton Lovins (Wauseon, OH) in the hammer (23.63m) and Hayle Flowers (Waverly, MI) in the javelin (24.70m). Flowers also went on to throw 9.04m in the shot put and 24.86m in the discus throw. Freshmen Quinn Stefanski (Munger, MI) , Aaliyah McIntosh (Chesterfield, MI), Hailey Stasiukinas (Wyoming, MI) also competed in various throwing events. Stefanski competed in three events, throwing 26.78m in the hammer, 24.1m in the discus and 9.19m in the shot put. McIntosh and Stasiukinas debuted in their respective throwing events with McIntosh tossing 8.35m in the shot put and Stasiukinas throwing 22.55m with the javelin.
Stasiukinas also competed in the long jump, where she jumped 4.33m, and ran in the 100m dash (14.97). She was joined by senior Emily Belinsky (Beulah, MI) who ran 13.61, a personal best time. Belinsky also ran a personal best in the 200m dash as well, finishing in a time of 28.41. Junior Hope Renfer (Northville, MI) competed in the 200m dash, running 29.20. Freshman Chloe Gunter (Monroe, MI) crossed the finish line in a time of 1:11.86 in the 400m race. She also went on to run in the 4x800 relay with Lydia Schroeder (Napoleon, OH), Elizabeth Trent (Saginaw, MI) and Madelyn Ankoviak (Sanford, MI), finishing in a time of 12:04.65. Trent, Schroeder, and Gunter went on to also compete in the 1,500 meter run where they ran 5:54.48, 6:03.20, 6:05.54, respectively. Rounding out the track events, Graduate student Gabriela Porter (Quincy, MI) competed in the 800m, crossing the line in a time of 2:33.92.
Jumper Sierra Stechebar (Rockford, MI) competed in the high jump and triple jump events, where she jumped 1.44m and 9.44m, respectively.
The Cardinals continue competition April 8-9, 2022 at the Golden Grizzlies Invite hosted by Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Keep up with the Cardinals by following the team on social media - CUAAXCTF.
