Warriors record three top-10 performances at Washington Invitational
By Matt Oliver
ST. LOUIS – Four outdoor school records were set or established by the Waldorf University women’s track and field team during a strong showing in the two-day Washington University Invitational, which concluded on Saturday.
“I was extremely impressed with our women’s team over the weekend,” Waldorf coach Kelsey Riggins said. “Almost all of them ran or threw a lifetime-best in an event and really surprised a lot of people. For being such a small team, scoring points is a big deal.”
Top-10 performances from Peyton Russell, Auburn Miller and Abby Buehler helped the Warriors earn points and crack the team standings. It was a tremendous feat for Waldorf, which is in its second year of outdoor competition.
“This is a big milestone for our program,” Riggins said. “With 90 teams represented at this meet, to have three of our women in the top 10 of their events speaks volumes to the kind of program we are trying to build.”
Russell secured sixth in the javelin and improved on her own school record as the sophomore from Bedford delivered a throw of 34.08 meters (111 feet, 10 inches).
“Peyton is a very talented javelin thrower and it is exciting to watch her learn and grow in this event,” Riggins said. “She will only improve throughout the season.”
Miller claimed ninth in the shot put, rewriting the school record books with an 11.43-meter (37-foot-6-inch) launch. The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota native also set a new school record in the discus with a throw of 29.36 meters (96 feet, 4 inches).
“Auburn had a huge breakthrough in the shot put this weekend,” Riggins said. “She made finals in a stacked field of competitors. She had a very nice day in the discus as well. Auburn is only a freshman and there is a lot more to come from this young woman.”
Buehler brought down her own school-record mark in the triple jump as the junior from Dodge Center, Minnesota earned 10th with a distance of 10.49 meters (34 feet, 5 inches). She turned in a personal-record in the 100-meter dash, clocking a time of 13.25 seconds.
“Abby had a nice weekend in the triple jump and finished 10th overall, which is a very big accomplishment,” Riggins said.
Sophomore Karissa Vetsch also set a new personal-record performance in the javelin, improving by more than five meters as she hit a mark of 26.80 meters (87 feet, 11 inches).
“She placed very well in the competition as well,” Riggins said. “She is brand new to the event and has a lot of natural ability.”
Waldorf was represented in 11 events during the meet. Senior Megan Perkins competed in the 100 and 400 while sophomore Erica Fee ran the 1,500. Sophomore Danielle Holt went to work in the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles. Buehler also competed in the long jump and freshman Adriana Garber contributed in the triple jump. Freshman Kelli Wallace and Russell battled in the hammer throw.
The Warriors continue the season in this Saturday’s Norse Relays at Decorah, beginning at 12 p.m.