MANKATO, Minn.— Jordan Burnett smashed the Colorado Mesa University school-record while
McKenna Molder posted the third fastest indoor time in program history as those 400-meter runs highlighted a strong day of efforts at the Minnesota State Massive Meet #1 on Friday here at the Myers Field House.
A relatively small, but elite group of CMU athletes, combined for seven total NCAA Division II Championship provisional qualifying marks, five of which were new or improved, and 13 team-scoring finishes throughout the day.
In the process and despite their small numbers, the Maverick men took second out of 13 teams with 56 ½ points while the CMU women finished seventh out of 22 squads with 24 team points. The Mavs had just 11 men and eight women compete.
Burnett, a redshirt freshman, continued to her strong season by posting a time of 55.74 seconds in the 400, breaking Jill Payne's school-record by a full half-second. She placed second on the day while Molder finished fourth with a career-best mark of 56.27 seconds, just off Payne's former record.
With the track conversions, Burnett ranks seventy on the national performance list with a converted time of 55.01 while Molder is 13
th at 55.54.
Another Maverick in
Sophie Lindauer also had a solid time of 58.94 seconds in her first attempt at that event of the season, just off her indoor PR of 58.83. Lindauer, who now ranks inside the RMAC's top 10 this season, also ran the 200 in 26.77 seconds while
Sierra Arceneaux placed sixth in a season-best 25.31 to rank second in the RMAC with a sub-25 (24.93) conversion.
The men's sprinters and hurdlers also fared well as
Kade Christensen and
Elijah Williams and
Zayden Davis claimed victories with NCAA provisional qualifying times. Christensen ran to a time of 6.84, matching his career-best while improving his positioning on the RMAC and national performance lists as Friday's performance was at sea level. He now ranks tied for third in the conference and 40th nationally.
Williams, who was making his season-debut and appearing in his first indoor meet, since placing third with a school-record mark at the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships, blazed to a mark of 21.93 seconds to take the RMAC lead with his converted time of 21.55, good for 18
th on the national list.
Teo Casados also fared well, placing third in 22.12 seconds while
Sterling Brassfield reached the finals in the 60 meters, tying for seventh with a time of 6.98 seconds.
In the men's 400,
Dayne Ortega took fourth in 49.42 seconds, just off his 3-week old school record of 49.37. He did move up to third in the RMAC with his converted time of 48.65. Former record holder
Kelsey Montague was 11
th in 51.36 seconds.
Davis was also just off his school-record in the 60-meter hurdles, winning in 8.05 seconds, just off his record of 8.02, which was set at altitude and thus resulted in an adjusted time of 8.06. Davis is now ranked 21
st nationally.
In the field,
Hayden Riley placed third in the shot put with a throw of 16.40 meters (53-9.75), just off his season-best of 16.58 meters (54-4.75), but over the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 16.34 meters.
Reigning RMAC Field Athlete of the Week
Justin Thompson also took third in the high jump with a clearance of 1.97 meters (6-5.5) while
Zace Buckhold placed fifth at 1.92 meters (6-3.5).
In the women's high jump,
Josie Coffey cleared 1.67 meters (5-5.75), which is the NCAA qualifying standard, but just off her season-best.
Mica Jenrette cleared 1.57 meters (5-1.75) and turned in a long jump mark of 5.13 meters (16-10) while
Hope Matteson cleared 1.52 meters (4-11.75).
Virginia Tomon finished ninth in the shot put at 12.53 meters (41-1.5).
The Mavericks will remain in Minnesota for Saturday's Massive Meet #2 (
LIVE RESULTS LINK).
