While most students enjoyed an extra week before classes at home, the men's and women's track teams were back in Michigan preparing for their indoor track season. Saturday the Chargers traveled to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Indoor Opener Invitational.
“This was a great opportunity for us to go and participate in a Division I meet,” head coach Bill Lundberg said. “This is the largest indoor track in the United States.”
For the men's team, the weekend marked many personal and lifetime bests for the Chargers. Senior Michael Nikkila, finished in first place in the 3000 meter race with a lifetime best of 8:29.55. Three other Chargers finished in the top five in the 3000, senior Kyle Fujimoto in third (8:39.31), junior Charles-Michael Berg in fourth (8:39.96) and sophomore Lewis Butler in fifth place (8:42:38). Junior Nick Liversedge had a lifetime best (8:55.30) and finished tenth.
“We are in good shape and many are running very well right now,” Nikkila said. “With it being so early in the season we have a lot to look forward to.”
Other stand out performances for the men at Notre Dame were junior Charles Henry in the 400 meter dash with a third place finish at 50.80, this was also a lifetime indoor best for Henry. Senior Matt Kaler (51.43) and sophomore Cody Calligan (52.08) also achieved lifetime indoor best performances in the 400 meter race. In the 800 meter race, sophomore Scott Keenan earned a lifetime best at 2:00.81. Sophomore Alex Schmidtendorff led the team in the one mile race (4:27.10) with a ninth place finish.
The 4X400 meter relay completed its season's best performance at 3:24.35 with a second place finish. The relay team was made up of Henry, junior Cody Senkyr, Kaler and Calligan.
In the field, sophomore Andrew Daugherty had a 45-11.75 finish in the 35 pound weight throw at fourth place. Freshman Greg Dixon had a season's best throw at 41-02.50 and finished in sixth. Freshman Evan Steward tied for second in the pole vault with a jump of 14-09-00.
The women also set many seasonal bests at Notre Dame, in the 60 meter hurdle race senior Katie Simmons finished seventh (9.45). In the 60 meter dash junior DiOnna Williams placed seventh and also set a seasonal best (7.93). Senior Candice Mulder had several high finishes, placing fifth in the 200 meter race (25.55) and second in the 400 meter race (57.69). Both finishes were seasonal bests for Mulder.
In the 800 meter race, sophomore Katie Smith place fourth (2:18.19) and junior Carrie Douglas finished fifth (2:18.74) setting seasonal best performances for themselves. Senior and one of the three team captains, Stephanie Carroll set a seasonal best in the one mile race with her third place finish (4:49.50). In the 3000 meter race, sophomore Alissa Hall (10:35.63) and junior Shannon Stanglewicz (10:37.95) also set seasonal best times, placing third and fourth in the race.
“Stephanie's finish in the mile gave her a provisional qualification for the national competition,” Lundberg said.
In the field events, senior Sara Monteleone led the way in the shot put with a fourth place throw (38-11.00) and freshman Kristin Donavon had a seasonal best of 38-04.75 with a fifth place finish. Junior Krista Pfautz finished sixth in the long jump (16-07.25) and junior Emily Sharp place fifth in the weight throw (49-03.50).
On Jan. 15, the Chargers competed in the Eastern Michigan Invitational where many of the athletes began their indoor season. Williams made a provisional national qualification in the 200 meter race. On Jan. 8, Sharp had a provisional qualification in the 20 pound weight throw.
“My goal for myself was to throw at least 50 feet,” Sharp said. “So when I threw 52 feet on my last throw I was really happy with the great start of a new season. I knew I was capable of throwing that far but didn't expect it so soon.”
The Chargers head to Bloomington, Ind., Friday to take part in the two day, Indiana Relays.