Warriors make a strong showing at SDSU Holiday Invite
BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Warriors traveled a small group to South Dakota State University to compete one time before the holidays. In the first meet of the Indoor Track & Field season, the Warriors had a strong showing at the SDSU Holiday Invite and Multi, posting 19 personal bests, 3 new School Records, 7 good enough to make Top 10 All Time in school history, and 1 meet champion.
The meet started with a strong showing of Jeaceajay Jappah in the Men's Heptathlon. Jappah started with a PR in the 60m running a 7.54 followed by another two PRs, jumping 5.88m in the Long Jump and throwing 8.94m in the Shot Put. Jappah rounded out his first day of the multi with a jump of 1.82m in the High Jump, just shy of matching his personal best. At the conclusion of Day 2 of the Multi, Jappah finished strong with a 1,000m PR of 2:55.29 landing him the 10th best time in school history and a total score of 3,790 point in the Heptathlon, earning him the 4th highest score in school history.
Freshman Erica Palisoc and Alexa Torres were next to run, both establishing 60m PRs of 8.48 and 8.53 respectively. Palisoc's time was good enough to earn 9th all time in school history. Andreaz Ramos opened up his collegiate career with a solid 7.53 in his first ever indoor race, followed by Robert Beal and Robay Birri finishing with a time of 7.36 and 7.31 respectively. XZayvier Horton rounded out our 60m competitors for the day running a strong 7.15, marking the 6th fastest time in school history.
The sprinters later doubled back to compete in the 200m and 300m. Palisoc ran a speedy 46.84 in the 300m earning herself the 2nd best time in school history. Horton went on to run 36.35 in the 300m, breaking his own school record. Brunelson Dominique also toed the line for the Men's 300m, finishing with a time of 38.59 and earning himself a spot as the 4th fastest Warrior in that distance. Alexa Torres ran a speedy 29.42 for her collegiate debut and Andreaz Ramos finished his collegiate debut with a time of 24.60 both with a strong first showing. Beal and Birri rounded out the sprinters competitions for the day with times of 23.42 and 24.38 respectively.
Eliza McKown had the strongest showing of the day for the Warriors. McKown opened up her season with the 1 mile where she ran a 5:22.83, not only winning the entire event, but also shattering the school record by nearly 14 seconds. Shortly after, McKown doubled back to run the 800m, finishing 2nd in her heat and taking down yet another school record. Cody Mayer made his collegiate debut in the Mile and Brunelson Dominique competed in the 600m where he ran 7 seconds faster than his previous personal best.
Freshman James Robey rounded out the day with his collegiate debut in the Weight Throw. Robey had a throw of 13.25m, earning himself a spot as the 4th best weight thrower in school history and winning his flight.
"I am extremely proud of how our athletes competed today. It is always nice to see our fitness put to the test after a few months of just training. I think a lot of valuable lessons were learned and our athletes walked away hungry and ready to get better over the long break," head Coach Janna Langrell said.
"Our athletes exceeded expectations for the first meet. With our young team, they broke records (personal and school) and made us very excited about the trajectory of the season," said assistant Coach Nolan Reynolds
The Warriors will be off for about a month and will return on Saturday, January 11th at the Dordt Invite.
McKown, Eliza- 5:22.83 (Mile) / 2:27.50 (800m)
Palisoc, Ericca- 8.48 (60m) / 46.84 (300m)
Torres, Alexa- 8.53 (60m) / 29.42 (200m)
Beal, Robert- 7.36 (60m) / 23.42 (200m)
Birri, Robay- 7.31 (60m) / 24.38 (200m)
Dominique, Brunelson- 38.59 (300m) / 1:34.56 (600m)
Horton, XZayvier- 7.15 (60m) / 36.35 (300m)
Jappah, Jeaceajay- 7.54 (60m) / 5.88m (Long Jump) / 8.94 (Shot Put) / 1.82m (High Jump) / 8.97 (60mH) / NH (Pole Vault) / 2:55.29 (1,000m) / 3,790 points (Heptathlon)
Mayer, Cody- 5:48.63 (Mile)
Ramos, Andreaz- 7.53 (60m) / 24.60 (200m)
Robey, James- 13.25m (Shot Put)