WINONA, Minn. – It was only a matter a time before Kaitlyn Long – the defending national champion – broke the all-time Division II weight throw national record. It just came a little earlier than one might have expected.
Coming into Saturday's Saint Mary's Early Birdinal, the record distance in the women's weight throw was 21.50 meters (70' 6.5"), set by Grand Valley State's Sam Lockhart in 2013. That honor now goes to Long, whose 22.25-meter throw (73') shattered the 20-lb weight record.
"I knew that was going to be a national-record throw," said throws coach Mike Turgeon.
The final throw for Long had fans on their feet as they were well-aware that they could be witnessing history. Teammates were cheering and getting the crowd into it, and the final heave was the one that set the record mark.
"I didn't know where it landed," said Long. "I just heard people cheering. After I found out that it was the national record for Division II, I was really excited."
"The ultimate goal this year is to repeat as national champion, and this is just another step along the way," said Turgeon.
Long was just one of many Warriors who turned in strong performances in their first competition of 2016, as the Warriors won 11 events as a team.
The Warriors took the top five spots in the 400-meter dash, led by junior Megan Seidl's time of 58.48, the seventh-best mark in school history.
WSU claimed the top two spots in the 600-meter run, with senior Katie Bagley winning the event with a time of 1:38.25 and freshman Allison Johnson finishing second at 1:42.66.
Freshman Hope Willenbrink led the Warriors in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:16.67, with teammates Madison Schroeder (3:18.68) and Maria Sabourin (3:22.84) finishing second and third.
Junior Tiffany Sunderland won the 1-mile run with a time of 5:32.96, with teammate Hannah Lewis finishing second at 5:37.31.
The Warriors took the top four spots in the 55-meter hurdles, led by freshman Olivia Fixen's time of 8.73, which is the sixth-best mark in WSU history.
WSU dominated the 4x400-meter relay, with its top two teams finishing 10 seconds better than third and fourth place.
The top five spots in the high jump went to the Warriors, with Amanda Shaefer and Maria Wrage each eclipsing heights of 5' 4.5". Schaefer also led WSU in the triple jump, winning the event with a mark of 36' ¾".
The Warriors claimed the top seven positions in the long jump, led by junior Hailey Deschaine's mark of 18' 3 ¼", tied for the fifth-best mark in program history.
Sophomore Ashley Thooft won the shot put event with a throw of 43' 8", with freshman Heather Buckler finishing second at 42' 4 ¾".
Winona State competes next at the Minnesota State Open & Multi next Friday and Saturday in Mankato.
