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Skanes sets facility record with No. 1 NAIA jump of season

Skanes sets facility record with No. 1 NAIA jump of season

SEWARD, Neb. – Led by a spectacular long jump performance by Imani Skanes, six more program records, two meet records and one facility record tumbled on Saturday courtesy of the College of Saint Mary indoor track & field team.

At the Concordia Classic, Skanes soared 6.04 meters (19 feet, 9¾ inches) to win the long jump. It's the best jump in the history of Walz Fieldhouse, the No. 1 long jump in the NAIA this indoor season, a meet record and a Flames program record.

"I realize I sound like a broken record, but I'm speaking the truth as it happens,'' CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "This was collectively our best meet in program history.''

CSM also set a meet record in the 4x800 relay, with Carly Henderson, Kara Muller, Mira Fosmer and Olivia Elbert winning in 9:27.63, which meets the NAIA 'A' standard and is No. 3 nationally this season.

The Flames registered five more program records:

  • Gozie Okafor won the triple jump with a mark of 11.81 meters (38-9), which improved her national 'B' standard and is No. 7 in the NAIA this season.
  • Olivia Elbert set her program record in the 600 with a fourth-place time of 1:38.18.
  • Syd'ney Birch-George established new CSM mark in the weight throw at 15.84 meters (51-11¾), good for sixth place.
  • Henderson's 7th-place effort in the 3,000 (10:49.52) is a new program standard.
  • And Allison's Isaacson's sixth place in the pole vault of 3.16 meters (10-4¼) eclipsed the previous CSM best.

College of Saint Mary's other victory came from Mira Fosmer in the 800 (2:27.21).

"That's one heck of a day,'' Gordon said. "This team doesn't just understand our mission and culture, they are actively defining it. They work hard to know what they are capable of, they step up and show in the moments.''

Other top-six finishes included Muller, who was second in the mile (5:17.46); Mikaiya Rodgers, who took third in the long jump at 5.80 (19- ½); Kiley Craft, who was fourth in the mile (5:26.56); Rayna Apley, who finished fifth in the high jump at 1.56 (5-1¼); Skanes, who was sixth in the triple jump at 11.34 (37-2½); and Okafor, who was sixth in the long jump at 5.42 (17-9½).

"This team is shining a new and different light on our program and the university as a whole,'' Gordon said. "These young ladies are students, scholars and community members, as well as athletes doing incredible things with College of Saint Mary across their jerseys. They could all be anywhere. They chose to be here!''

Here are Saturday's complete CSM results:

60 meter prelims: 16, Mackenzie Stanley 8.15

60 hurdles prelims: 9, Rayna Apley 9.81; 18, Ava Daro 10.92

400: 17, Mackenzie Stanley 1:02.77; 23, Lilly Nelson 1:05.02

600: 4, Olivia Elbert 1:38.18; 22, Josie Pogge 1:51.12; 26, Peyton Bell 1:52.53; 27, Natalie Briggs 1:52.61

800: 1, Mira Fosmer 2:27.21

Mile: 2, Kara Muller 5:17.46; 4, Kiley Craft 5:26.56; 9, Corinne Mead 5:33.72; 31, Yenifer Juan Jesus 5:59.94; 35, Evie Kelly 6:05.37; 37, Sarah Dickas 6:06.28; 38, Lily Ray 6:07.51

3,000: 7, Carly Henderson 10:49.62; 19, Yenifer Juan Jesus 11:49.28

High jump: 5, Rayna Apley 1.56 (5-1¼)

Long jump: 1, Imani Skanes 6.04 (19-9¾); 3, Mikaiya Rodgers 5.80 (19- ½); 6, Gozie Okafor 5.42 (17-9½); 8, Kayla Briggs 5.18 (17-0); 12, Avah VanArsdale 5.05 (16-7); 24, Ireland Todd 4.06 (13-4)

Pole vault: 6, Allison Isaacson 3.16 (10-4¼); 21, Phoenix Jensen 2.71 (8-10¾)

Shot put (unseeded): 7, Syd'ney Birch-George 11.65 (38-2¾); 18, Georgia Carroll 10.69 (35-1); 21, Tavia Williams 10.38 (34- ¾)
Triple jump: 1, Gozie Okafor 11.81 (38-9); 6, Imani Skanes 11.34 (37-2½); 8, Allison Isaacson 10.93 (35-10½); 10, Kayla Briggs 10.43 (34-2 ¾); 12, Avah VanArsdale 10.19 (33-5¼)

 Weight throw (unseeded): 6, Syd'ney Birch-George 15.84 (51-11¾); 14, Clare Ullery 14.25 (46-9); 38, Tavia Williams 11.48 (37-8)

4x800 relay: 1, CSM (Carly Henderson, Kara Muller, Mira Fosmer, Olivia Elbert) 9:27.63