Kesseh a Double Winner for UMD

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

Erica Kesseh won a pair of individual titles — the first two of her young University of Minnesota Duluth outdoor track career — to lead the Bulldogs at the 14th annual Drake Alternative meet Saturday in St. Peter, Minn.

The freshman from Burnsville, Minn., placed first in the 100-meter dash finals with a time of 12.77 and duplicated that feat in the 200-meter dash, coming in at 26.23. UMD senior Erin Pangerl was second to Kesseh in the 100-meter race (12.85) and took sixth in the 200 (27.42). Jennifer Hitchcock finished second in the hammer throw with a school-record toss of 56.41 meters (185-01), which currently ranks her 12th in the nation.

UMD also received second-place finishes from freshman Katherine Hawkinson in both the triple jump (10.96 meters) and long jump (5.13 meters). Other high placings were turned in by sophomore Stefani Fiedenfels in the high jump (5th; 1.48 meters) and Holt in the 1,500-meter run (6th; 4:58.24).

In addition, a select number of Bulldogs competed in two other meets during the week — the Hamline University Women’s Twilight and the 106th Drake Relays (Thursday-Saturday)

Hamline Women’s Twilight
Holt started out this week’s series of meets by capturing the 10,000-meter title at the Hamline Women’s Twilight meet on Wednesday wwith a time of 37:28.98. Other top performances included senior Katherine Ayers in the shot put (sixth; 11.61m), discus (seventh; 41.88m) and hammer throw (eighth; 47.54m). Hitchcock also competed in the hammer throw, finishing fourth with a throw of 51.34, while junior Lauren Bruha took sixth in the 800-meter race (2:28.72) and eighth in the 1,500 meter run (5:08.06).

Drake Relays
Four Bulldogs paid a visit to Des Moines, Iowa for the 106th annual Drake Relays and that entire quartet came away with personal bests and one school record. On Wednesday night at the Distance Carnival, sophomore Breanna Colbenson turned in a 17:04.41 effort in the 5,000-meter race. She finished 16th overall and was the only NCAA Division II runner amongst the Division I and professional competitors. On Saturday morning, junior Hannah Olson finished sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and broke her own school record in the process with a time of 10:31.35. Senior Alexandra Rudin finished with a personal best (15th; 10:46.01) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as well. Rookie Emilee Trost was amongst the top finishers in the 1,500-meter race (sixth; 4:26.75) and was the only freshman in the mix of juniors and seniors.

This Sunday and Monday, senior Amelia Maher will represent UMD at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Heptathlon Championships in Aberdeen, S.D