LAWRENCE, Kan. – North Dakota State senior Maddy Nilles extended her hammer throw school record twice on Friday night at the Rock Chalk Classic, headlining a day of big performances by the Bison women's track & field team.
 
Nilles hit a mark of 226-2 (68.95m) on her final attempt in the hammer, finishing as the top collegian in the meet. In all, she registered four throws of 68 meters or better, and moved up to third in the NCAA this season.
 
Tasha Willing climbed to fourth all-time at NDSU in the hammer throw, launching a personal-best 209-5 (63.85m). She now ranks 29th in the nation this year. Shelby Gunnells threw a career-best 208-10 (63.66m), ranking sixth in NDSU history. Gunnells stands at No. 31 on the national performance list.
 
NDSU junior Jennie Baragar-Petrash captured the 1500m title, backing up her career-best time of 4:16.70 from last week by running 4:16.74 to win on Friday night.
 
Senior Annika Rotvold posted the second-fastest 1500m of her career, finishing second in 4:22.17 to give NDSU a sweep of the top two places. Erin Valgardson cut three seconds off her previous best, running 4:39.55.
 
Junior Kari Wolfe recorded the second-best javelin throw of her career to take runner-up honors at 178-3 (54.35m). She ranks seventh in the NCAA this season.
 
Freshman Kendra Kelley sprinted to a personal-best time of 24.09 in the 200m dash, tying her for seventh-best on the NDSU all-time list. There was a barrage of Bison personal-bests behind Kelley, including Nell Graham in 24.77, Alyssa Lind in 24.89, and Jocelyn Dinius in 24.97.
 
Senior Alaysia Freetly earned a career-best 10:58.94 in the 3000m steeplechase, ranking eighth in school history. In her first-ever attempt at the steeplechase, Bison freshman Kaleesa Houston ran 11:06.38 to rank 10th in NDSU history.
 
Jenna Kes ran a personal-best 1:01.25 in the 400m hurdles, ranking 10th-fastest in NDSU history. Bailee Dierks clocked a 400m hurdles PR of 1:03.90.
 
Bison senior Katie Bye ran an outdoor 800m personal-best of 2:14.00.
 
Competition will continue and conclude at the Rock Chalk Classic on Saturday.