Jensen, Gietzen & Bison Throwers Shine at South Dakota Invitational

Wednesday, April 11

Vermillion, S.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

South Dakota Invitational

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

Jensen, Gietzen & Bison Throwers Shine at South Dakota Invitational

4/11/2018 10:47:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

By: Photo courtesy Richard Svaleson

Results

VERMILLION, S.D. – The North Dakota State women's track & field team recorded a number of significant performances at the mid-week South Dakota Invitational on Wednesday, led by seniors Piper Jensen and Lauren Gietzen and the Bison throws crew.

Jensen posted a big mark in the long jump, winning with a leap of 20-01.00 (6.12m) – ranking her fourth in NDSU history and tied for 36th in the NCAA this year. Sophomore Bailey DeMar went over 19 feet in the long jump for the first time in her career, taking second place behind Jensen with a personal-best 19-04.25 (5.90m).

Gietzen cleared a lifetime-best 13-07.75 (4.16m) in the pole vault, locking up a spot at the NCAA West Prelims for the second year in a row. She ranks second in NDSU outdoor history behind only All-American Leslie Brost and is tied for 16th on the NCAA performance list this season.

NDSU won all four throwing events on Wednesday, with junior Maddy Nilles taking first in a pair of events.

Nilles won the discus to open the meet, throwing 164-7 (50.18m), and came back to take the hammer throw title with a mark of 197-10 (60.30m). Junior Shelby Gunnells moved up to sixth in NDSU history in the hammer throw, posting a personal-best toss of 194-5 (59.26m) for runner-up honors.

Sophomore Bailey Retzlaff improved to third in NDSU outdoor history in the shot put, winning the event with a throw of 51-11.00 (15.82m). Sophomore Maggie Schwarzkopf threw a personal-best 49-11.00 (15.21m) in the shot put, finishing in third place and moving up to eighth in NDSU history.

Senior Kayla Hochhalter won the javelin title with a throw of 152-0 (46.32m), leading a Bison sweep of the top four places. Kaitlyn Smith (134-10 / 41.10m) and Lindsay Wangerin (132-10 / 40.48m) finished second and third in the javelin, both throwing collegiate PRs.

NDSU's Alexis Woods won the 400m dash in 54.75, and freshman Alyssa Lind clocked a season-best 57.08 for fourth place.

Bison sophomore Alaysia Freetly now ranks 10th all-time at NDSU in the 3000m steeplechase after running 11:20.66 Wednesday.

Freshman Jenna Kes (Jordan, Minn.) placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 37-04.00 (11.38m).

Senior Gabby Grommesh finished fourth in both the 100m (12.30) and 200m (25.60). Freshman Ansley Schug (Woodbury, Minn.) clocked a season-best time of 14.94 in the 100m hurdles for fourth place.