The Bowling Green State University women’s track and field team had a successful showing at the Grand Valley State University meet.
Brooke Pleger and Jasmine Redman had dominant performances in the beginning while the relay teams managed to close the meet out strong. They also hit another automatic qualifying mark.
The Falcons now have two days to rest and prepare for the Mid-American Conference Indoor championship.
The team managed to kick things off with Redman and fellow teammate Brittany Sinclair racing in the 400 and 5000 meter events. Both managed to hit automarks in their respective events, giving the Falcons a total of 10 for the year.
Redman’s time of 17:26.08 exceeded the automark by seven seconds, while Sinclair posted a new personal best of 56.53 to achiever hers.
Lou Snelling, the Falcons’ head track coach, was happy to see her qualify by exceeding the automark.
“It was good stuff for her, we felt she should be confident going into the event and we’re glad she exceeded it,” Snelling said.
Pleger, a junior, continued the stride for her team by dominating the weight throw event. She managed not only to break BG’s weight throw record of 63.975, but she also became the thirteenth player in the country to throw more than 67 feet.
Those records allow her to participate in the national championship weight throw event. It was a special moment for Pleger and the Falcons.
“It was one of those moments,” Snelling. said. “Before it even landed, you knew it was going to be a special throw. She has a real shot at getting the national championship.”
The following day was also good for the Falcons as they competed in the 1600 relay race event. Out of 24 total schools, BG won it in first place with a time of 3:49.32, which marks the first time the Falcons have surpassed the 3:50 mark this season.
Snelling said that this effort gives them a good shot at the championship game.
Redshirt freshmen Heather Baruxes and Lindsay Kaatz set new personal records in their events to close the day. Baruxes came in sixth with a time of 10:23.30 and Kaatz ran a time of 2:21.24.
With the MAC Indoor championship two weeks away, Snelling said the main thing for the team to do is realize that they control what happens in the event.
“We’re in a much better spot than last year, we control our destiny,” Snelling said. “If we do well, good things will happen … we need to be ready for that.”
