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Women continue record-setting streak
Tyler Horning/Collegian
By Alexis Boylan
Collegian Freelancer
Hillsdale College made
history last weekend when the 38th annual Gina Relays turned
out to be the largest track and field meet ever in Michigan
history.
Over 3,000 athletes and 64 different schools
from throughout the Ohio, Indiana and Michigan areas came to
compete against tough competition on a fast track, in some cases
aiming for Olympic-qualifying standards.
The meet was a four-day affair that required
around-the-clock supervision and maintenance.
The football team, women's basketball team,
as well as numerous college students were on hand to keep the
meet running smoothly and cleanly.
"We pulled off the biggest record-breaking
meet of the season," coach Penny Neer said. "We got
so many compliments that everything was so clean and on time-everybody
really helped out."
As for the women's track team, their performances
at the Gina Relays were beyond stellar. Four women yet again
provisionally qualified for nationals: senior Tauna Blacquiere,
sophomores DiOnna Williams and Heidi Johnson, and junior Stephanie
Carroll. The rest of the team earned numerous personal bests.
Blacquiere bettered her heptathlon score
with a point total of 4,758 to break the school record. She
placed third in the event, and got a better point value for
her provisional score for nationals.
"I want my score to be better,"
Blacquiere said. "There were some events that I could've
done better, but overall I'm happy I improved and glad to know
that there is another chance to do better."
Carroll also provisionally qualified for nationals
in the 1,500-meter run, finishing in 4 minutes, 34.19 seconds.
Out of fifty runners, Carroll placed second.
"I am not disappointed with my time,
but the race went a little slow. The pace was staid and I didn't
start out as quick as I would have liked," Carroll said.
Williams was another provisional qualifier
for Nationals at the Hillsdale "Gina Relays." Williams
qualified in the 200-meter dash in 24.84 and placed third out
of fifty-eight runners.
"The race was ok, and I wasn't that excited."
Williams said. "I didn't get the time I wanted, which was
24.5 seconds, but the time was close. Hopefully within the next
three weeks I will make Nationals since right now I can be knocked
off."
Johnson, who has been out all cross-country
and the indoor track season with severe tendonitis, made a miraculous
recovery last weekend and provisionally qualified for Nationals.
She placed fifteenth in the 5000-meter with a time of 17:40.40.
"It's pretty unreal," Johnson said.
"Being injured has made me appreciate running more and
really look forward to racing. While this year has been frustrating,
the patience is paying off now."
Johnson said she had no expectation of provisionally
qualifying for Nationals, and was just eager to help out her
team.
"I didn't expect to qualify, but I figured
the competition would be awesome and that would hopefully help
me lower my time," Johnson said. "This was my 2nd
5000-meter run ever, but this time I went out more aggressive
and had people around me to work off of. So I was planning on
just doing the best I could, knowing I was close to qualifying
time."
Coach Neer said she was proud of all the girls
who ran and helped out with the meet and that the real focus
of the "Gina Relays" was to get ready for the GLIACS,
which Hillsdale will be hosting next weekend.
"I was proud of the team's attitude and
how well they cheered each other on-but that's the norm,"
Neer said. "GLIACS, however, is the ultimate competition
for our team."
As for the rest of the team, junior Candice
Mulder ran a new personal best in the 400-meter in 57.0 while
freshman Katie Smith (2:17.47) and sophomore Carrie Douglas
(2:18.85) ran a new personal record in the 800-meter.
Sophomore Robin Joecken threw a personal record
in the shot put of 38'2", and junior Callie Adamson achieved
a new personal record in the steeplechase, running the event
in 11:46. The 4x400 relay team ran a time of 3:52, which was
just off the school record time.
"I am very happy with this meet,"
Neer said. The college had a personal record with this meet,
which was a show. We are all tired, but it's a good tired."
The next meet will be the Northwood Open,
on Saturday, May 1, at Midland, Michigan.
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