GRAND FORKS, N.D. – For the third consecutive week, the North Dakota State duo of
Kendra Kelley and
Nell Graham continued to rewrite the Bison women's track & field record books. The pair sprinted to a combined three school records on Saturday at the UND Open.
Kelley improved her NDSU 60m dash record twice on her way to winning the meet, clocking 7.42 in the prelims and 7.36 in the final. The races marked her third and fourth times this season setting the new Bison all-time best in the event.
Later in the meet, Kelley also destroyed her previous record in the 200m, winning in 23.50. The performance set a new UND facility record and ranks Kelley 26th in the nation this season.
Not to be outdone, Bison senior
Nell Graham captured her third different school record in a 15-day span. She burned a time of 37.63 to win the 300m dash – breaking Morgan Milbrath's 2017 NDSU record by more than one second.
Ilise Jennings ran a career-best 7.46 for second place in the 60m dash behind Kelley, making her the second-fastest woman in school history in the event.
Allie Niska clocked a 200m personal-best of 24.65 for second place in the meet. She is now No. 11 in NDSU indoor history.
Salmata Korgho won the 60m hurdles in 8.43, leading a Bison sweep of the top four places.
Bailee Dierks ran a career-best 8.57 in the 60m hurdles, taking second in the meet and ranking eighth all-time at NDSU.
NDSU's
Brita Birkeland won the 800m title in a personal-best time of 2:14.98.
Freshman
Joy Nnantah won the triple jump with a leap of 38-11 (11.86m).
A trio of Bison women posted career-best marks in the weight throw.
Merrideth Spiers placed second at 64-00.25 (19.51m),
Lexi Maples finished third at 62-02.50 (18.96m), and
Annabel Thorstenson claimed fourth at 59-05.00 (18.11m).
Kaci Cooper ran a personal-best 56.50 in the 400m to take second place.
Soraya Espino was third in 57.54.
Grace Emineth was second in the long jump with a mark of 19-04.25 (5.90m).
Makenna Vollmer took fourth at 19-02.00 (5.84m).
NDSU will compete at home next week, with the Bison Open being held on Feb. 2-3.
