The BG women’s track and field team ran a successful meet this weekend at the Hillsdale Gina Relays in Hillsdale, Mich.
The meet was not scored, but the Falcons had several top finishes and many personal best or season’s best times. Captains Amber Culp, Kerri McClung and Alicia Taylor led the squad with several of the season’s best marks and at least one first place finish each.
Head coach Scott Sehmann expressed pride in the team’s performance.
“Overall, I think it was probably our best team effort of the year,”
Sehmann said. “Across the board, from event to event, I was pleased with the effort and performance of the team.”
In sprint events, Taylor led the way by winning the 100 meter dash along with the 100 meter hurdles. Teammates Valerie Holland and Jessica White placed third and fifth respectively in the 100 meter dash. Amber Walker finished fifth in the 400 meter dash and sixth in the 200 meters. Teammate Lyndi Springer took eighth in the 400 meter hurdles in a personal best time of 1:03.58.
Distance runner Amber Culp had a standout meet as well, winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a season best time of 10:42.89.
Her time was the second fastest in school history. Fellow distance runner Melissa Krueger took sixth in the 800 meters. BG’s relay teams once again had an excellent meet. The 4 x 100 meter team took second in 46.64. The 4 x 800 meter relay team also took second with a time of 9:37.36.
In field events, the Falcons had several athletes in the top eight.
Kerri McClung won the shot put with a distance of 14.87 meters, her top distance this season. Teammate Paris Bussey took eighth in the same event with a personal best throw of 13.02 meters. In the high jump, Erica Wilson took second with a jump of 1.68 meters. Teammate Veronica Vance placed sixth in the triple jump. Andi Bunko recorded a personal best in the javelin, placing fourth with a throw of 36.89 meters.
Coach Sehmann credits the team’s performance to their increased effort in practice.
“We brought a few things to the team’s attention last week. We certainly showed much more intensity and will to compete than we have all year,” Sehmann said.
The Falcon’s will take that intensity and will into their next meet. The squad will be competing in the Central Collegiate Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich. April 30.
