(Spring Arbor, MI) - The women's track and field program continued its season by traveling to Spring Arbor on Saturday, April 12, for the Bill Bippes Invitational. The team ended the meet with seven personal records, five collegiate debuts, six season-best efforts and two NCCAA qualifiers.
Jayde Ullenbruch (Sophomore; Fort Gratiot, MI) ran to a personal record in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.88, and qualified for the NCCAA nationals. Ullenbruch ran to a new personal best time of 28.07 in the 200-meter dash. Ullenbruch also competed in the Long Jump and finished with a distance of 4.97 meters.
Emma Puwal (Freshman; Utica, MI) made her collegiate debut in the 100-meter dash and finished in 13.81. Puwal also ran to a new personal best time in the 200 with a final 28.36 seconds.
In field events, Christina Smith (Freshman; Saginaw, MI) threw a new personal record best in Javelin with a distance of 33.26 meters and earned an NCCAA Qualifying mark.
Hailey Stasiukinas (Senior;Wyoming, MI) also competed in Javelin with a throw of 29.11 meters and threw Shot Put with a distance of 8.65 meters.
Quinn Stefanski (Senior; Munger, MI), Maya Freeman (Junior; Cleveland, OH) and Maya Freeman (Sophomore; Fort Gratiot, MI) competed in Hammer and Discus. Stefanski led the way in Discus with a throw of 29.36 meters, followed by Jenkins (23.36 m) and Freeman (23.12 m). In the Hammer throw, Jenkins was the top finisher in fourth place with a distance of 40.44 meters. Stefanski finished in sixth place with a throw of 39.50 and Freeman finished in 14 with a throw of 31.37 meters.
Stefanski and Freeman also competed in Shot Put. Stefanski once again led the way with a seventh-place finish with a throw of 10.16 meters. Freeman finished in 17 place with a throw of 8.69 meters.
Merin Merkle (Sophomore; Monroe, MI) made her collegiate debut in High Jump. Merkle cleared 1.46 meters to finish in fourth place. Merkle also ran to a new personal record time in the 400, finishing at 1:08.
Elizabeth Hines (Sophomore; Ypsilanti, MI) also ran to a new personal best time of 1:11. Hines also ran her first 1500 of the season and finished at 6:01.
Macee Ripke (Sophomore; Napoleon, OH), Rachael Byers (Sophomore; Plymouth, MI) Grace Finley (Sophomore; Monroe, MI), Michaela Kurth (Sophomore; Ypsilanti, MI), and Alison Doerr (Junior; Grand Haven, MI) all competed in the 1500. Ripke finished the way in 5:15, followed by Byers in 5:16, Kurth in 5:25, Finley (5:37) and Doerr in 6:15. Ripke and Byers ran to personal record times, while Kurth and Finley ran to season-best times.
Ripke, Byers, Doerr all doubled up and ran the 800 with Chloe Gunter (Senior; Monroe, MI) and Jenna Oberly (Sophomore; Dearborn, MI). Byers led the way at 2:38. Ripke paced herself at 2:39. Byers and Ripke made their collegiate outdoor debut at that distance. Gunter ran to the season-best time of 2:45 and Oberly ran to a 3:10, just a second off her best time.
The women's team will compete on Friday and Saturday at Oakland University for the Elaine Leigh Invite.
