Dillon Hogan/Winonan

During their recent trip to Menomonie, the Winona State women’s Track and Field team gave a dominating performance en route to winning ten events.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, the team ran at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for their second meet of the New Year.

Showing no signs of slowing down from the long break, the Warriors looked strong and took their talents to Northern Wisconsin.

Winning two of the Warriors’ ten events was sophomore Kelsey Bethke, who was the victor in both the 200 and the 400 meters.  Not only did Bethke win both the 200 and 400-meter dashes, but the Warriors claimed the top four spots in the 200 and the top three spots in the 400.

“Our team has been working really hard this season, and I feel that we did really well overall,” Bethke said. “I felt strong going into my race and I think the team felt the same going into their events as well.”

The winning ways for the runners didn’t just stop with the 200 and 400-meter races with victories coming in the 60-meter hurdles and the 50-meter dash coming from Anna Blaske and Tina Farley respectively. For Farley, this was her second consecutive week winning the 60-meter dash followed closely by teammate Allison Schultz.

Long distance runner Jordana LeSavage won the 3000 meter race just ahead of teammate Anna Schield turning in another strong performance for the Warriors.

Not to be outdone by the runners, the participants of the event section held up their end of the team. Four of the Warriors put up scores that would qualify them for the NCAA championship.

In the shot put Alissa Rausch claimed victory with a throw far enough to qualify, while in the weight throw Elisa Moenkedick was able to secure victory with teammates Shanai Guider and Kassi Kamps finishing right behind. All three weight throwers had marks that would qualify for the NCAA championship in the spring.

Wrapping up the victories for the Warriors were Taylor DePerry and Annie Weinrich. DePerry took home the win in the high jump while Weinrich earned the triple jump triumph.

After the results of Saturday’s meet, coach Michael Turgeon said, “The meet this week went better than last week. We changed up our practice routine a little bit, by giving the girls less throws to make to work on their technique and that showed. We are really starting to transfer some of the things we have been working on in practice to the meets.”

The team itself is looking to improve every day.

“Our coaches were very happy with our results and we hope to continue improving individually, and as a team for future meets to come.”  Bethke said.

“We are working on progressing by checking off goals to accomplish every week,” Turgeon said. “If we can keep that up then everything should start to come together by the conference meet and then the championships.”

The Winona State track and field team’s next meet is Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26 at Minnesota State, Mankato at 3 p.m.

Contact Dillon at [email protected]