Choponis, Truckey, Harper and Szymanski record top ten performance in Division Two
ALLENDALE, Mich., and MANKATO, Minn. – The Northern Michigan track and field team turned in strong performances across a pair of meets this weekend, competing at Grand Valley State in the GVSU Big Meet and Minnesota State in the Ted Nelson Classic.
The weekend was highlighted by a school record, two NCAA provisional marks, and seven top-five finishes.
GVSU Big Meet
The 4000m DMR was impressive for the Green and Gold, setting a new school record and NCAA provisional mark. The team of Ashley Choponis, Baux Truckey, Beverly Harper, and Madi Szymanski clocked in at 11:44.49 for fifth place of 23 teams, while also posting the current DII ninth-best time.
In the 800m, Harper finished in the top half of the field with a PR and NCAA provisional mark of 2:12.95, placing 14th.
Sophia Potter hit a PR in the 3000m with a time of 10:08.76 to take 18th place.
Truckey was 16th in the 200m, crossing at 25.03.
In the mile, Szymanski finished in 4:59.62 for fourth place, followed by Lamar Gordon (4:59.84) in sixth and Choponis (5:01.32) in seventh.
Ted Nelson Classic
The Northern Michigan Wildcats produced four podium finishes and added six more top-five results.
Celia Wallace led the way in the 3,000m, earning runner-up honors in 11:12.61.
The mile featured two Wildcats in the top five. Ella DeBruyn took third in 5:07.00, while Anya VanSweeden placed fifth with a personal-best 5:19.55.
Northern Michigan also placed two in the top five of the 800m. Lola Korpi secured third with a personal-best 2:19.37, and Lana Mac followed in fifth at 2:22.45. DeBruyn came through just behind them, clocking 2:29.01 for sixth.
Crystal Walker delivered a third-place showing in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.91, her second-best mark.
Mac added a sixth-place effort in the 400m, finishing in 1:01.77.
The 5,000m saw two Wildcats finish inside the top 10. Dani VanLente crossed seventh in 18:18.10, with Wallace ninth in 18:46.15. Madelyn Agren followed in 11th, recording a personal-best 18:52.51.
Natasha Nowaski cleared 1.48m in the high jump to claim sixth place.
In the shot put, Danielle Lund placed sixth with a throw of 12.54m, and Teiolla Harvey followed in ninth at 11.45m.
Kati Smith cleared 3.34m in the pole vault to finish 10th.
Alayna Vandegriff posted NMU’s top field result of the meet, placing fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.08m.
The Wildcats added two more top-10 finishes in the weight throw, with Harvey fifth at 15.80m and Lund ninth at 14.99m.
Up Next
The Wildcats will head to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for the Parkside Classic on Saturday, Feb. 21.
