Isaacson, 4x800 relay set program records
SEWARD, Neb. – Two more College of Saint Mary program records fell on Friday at the Concordia Twilight meet, and both appear likely to have secured trips to the NAIA national outdoor meet.
In the 4 x 800-meter relay, Carly Henderson, Corinne Mead, Kara Muller, Olivia Elbert ripped off a time 9:12.36 for a second-place finish, just more than a second behind Dakota State University. CSM's time is a national 'A' standard and smashed the program record by nearly five seconds.
Henderson ran a 2:15.88, Mead was timed in 2:26.09, Muller clocked 2:15.08 and Elbert anchored in 2:15.29.
"The 4x800m relay found their groove again, setting a new program record, a meet record and achieving the A standard,'' CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "It was a championship-worthy race for all involved.''
In the triple jump, Allison Isaacson had her best career day by a wide margin. She soared 11.85 meters or 38 feet, 10½ inches to win the event and set a program record. She established a national 'B' standard and flew by her personal best of 11.50 (37-8¾) by more than a foot.
Isaacson achieved the difficult task of improving on every single jump, going from 11.17 to 11.29 to 11.38 to 11.44 to 11.79 and finally to 11.85.
"The surprise of the day was the continued emergence of Allison Isaacson as a force!'' Gordon said. "The best triple jump competition she's ever had showed steady improvement—until it showed an absolutely mind-blowing improvement!
"Ally put out a series of jumps that had the entire competition stunned! She set a new personal best that was so big, she actually set a program record by one centimeter, grabbed the 'B' standard and climbed into the national top 15! That's just wild.''
The meet stood has a final opportunity to attempt to quality for nationals.
"We proved why a 'last-chance' meet is useful!'' Gordon said. "The opportunity to narrow the focus to purely on hitting a qualifying standard is exciting. Everyone in attendance is on the same team, regardless of uniform. Everyone is elevated.''
Gordon said Mikaiya Rodgers (long jump) and Gozie Okafor (triple jump) also set season bests in their respective field events. And Rayna Apley in the high jump was clean through three heights before just missing at the national 'B' standard.
"Agonizingly close,'' Gordon said. "It was the best competition performance she has ever had.''
The official listed of national qualifiers is expected to be released on Wednesday.
Here are all of the CSM results from Friday:
200: 7, Ava Hilger 26.63
800: 4, Olivia Elbert 2:15.89
1,500: 17, Sarah Dickas 5:58.83
5,000: 9, Sarah Dickas 21:55.28
10,000: 2, Kiley Craft 41:41.20; 3, Yenifer Juan Jesus 43:03.48
4x800 relay: 2, CSM (Carly Henderson, Corinne Mead, Kara Muller, Olivia Elbert) 9:12.36
High jump: t3, Rayna Apley 1.62 (5-3¾)
Long jump: 4, Mikaiya Rodgers 5.54 (18-2¼); 7, Avah VanArsdale 4.84 (15-10½); 9, Chainey Thompson 4.62 (15-2); 12, Ireland Todd 4.16 (13-7¾)
Triple jump: 1, Allison Isaacson 11.85 (38-10½); 4, Gozie Okafor 11.63 (38-2); 10, Chainey Thompson 9.92 (32-6½)
Hammer: 8, Syd'ney Birch-George 42.64 (139-11)
Shot put: 11, Syd'ney Birch-George 11.60 (38- ¾)