Nuutinen Qualifies for Nationals in V-Hawks First Meet
RIPON, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Indoor Track team competed at the Ripon College Winter Open this weekend. The V-Hawks finished with 132 team points, finishing 2nd out of seven teams.
Bailey Nuutinen led the V-Hawks by placing first in the pole vault, topping her own school record of 3.42m (11'-02.50) with a height of 3.52m (11-06.50), which was good enough for National A Standard, guaranteeing her a spot in the National Championship Meet. Tess Durscher and Emma Johnson each tied for fourth in the pole vault at 3.18m (10-05.25).
In the 60-meter hurdles, Clair Shepardson took first place in her first ever individual race with a time of :09.59, while also setting the school record of :09.26 in the preliminaries. Johnson followed her with a time of :10.03 for third place, and Ashley Vernoen was fourth at :10.15.
Breanna Ihde was the top finisher in the 300-meter dash, with a time of :43.25, the second best time in school history, while Claudia Schunk was fourth (:44.58), and Lauren Cole was fifth (:45.95).
Shepardson, Schunk, Ihde, and Lana Yeakel made up the 4x200-meter dash team the finished first place at 1:46.80, coming within a tenth of a second of the school record.
Miranda Kendall was the final first place finisher, clearing 1.59m (5-02.50) in the high jump, with teammates Veronen finishing third (1.55m (5-01.00)), and Cole in fifth (1.45m (4-09.00)).
In the 3000-meter run, Anya Hirsch came in second place, timing 10:56.27.
Tori Gerber had two top five finishes, coming third in the 800 at 2:31.50, and fifth in the mile run with a time of 5:53.94. Hannah Butler also finished fifth in the 800 at 2:38.36.
Alexie Stephanie's jump of 10.40m (34-01.50) earned her fourth place.
The 4x400-meter relay team of Cole, Kendra Czerneski, Madelyn Kassulke, and Lainey Teynor finished in fifth place at 4:46.65.
The V-Hawks return to action on Saturday, December 10 at the UW-Oshkosh Early Bird Invitational.