MADISON, Wis. – Freshman weight thrower Kaitlyn Long continued her climb up not only the Winona State record book, but also the national record book at the Red and White Open on Friday in Madison, Wis.
Long broke the Winona State school record in the weight throw, winning the entire event with a 68' 5 3/4" (20.87-meters) throw, breaking Jenny Schuler's record set back in 2012 by 4' 1 1/4". The throw also broke the NSIC record and ranks as the sixth best throw of all-time in Division II indoor track and field history.
Long's mark automatically qualified her for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships for the second time this year, surpassing the mark she set just last week in The Showcase in St. Paul, Minn.
Alyssa Rausch had a strong mark in the weight throw as well. Rausch came away with third with a 60' 1/2" (20.22-meters) toss, provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships and placing her seventh all-time in Winona State history.
Rausch carried her strong performance in the weight throw over the shot put as well. Rausch set yet another provisional qualifying mark in the event with a throw of 49' 11 1/4" (15.22-meters). It was the second-best throw in Rausch's historic Winona State career and the third-best mark in WSU school history. Rausch's toss netted her a third place finish in the event.
Winona State would get a fourth provisional qualifier on the day in the high jump. Amanda Schaefer came away with a third-place finish in the high jump with a 5' 5 1/4" (1.66-meters) leap. Schaefer's mark tied her previous mark as the second-best high jump in school history.
Winona State's 4x400-meter relay team would be the fifth provisional qualifier on the day. The relay team of Megan Seidl, Kelsey Bethke, Brittney Schyvinck, and Catherine Whitcomb set the fourth-best mark in school history and came away with a first place finish, crossing the finish line in 3:50.47. The mark provisionally qualified them for the NCAA Championships.
The Warriors ended up having a fantastic day as a team in the 800-meter dash, with four runners cracking into the top 10 in the WSU record book. Katie Bagley put up the second-best mark in school history with a time of 2:17.54. Chelsea Schrubbe came away with the seventh-best time in school history with a 2:21.46 finish, Madison Schroder with WSU's ninth-greatest mark at 2:22.30, and McKenzie Carper finished 10th in school history with a time of 2:22.35.
Madeline Tompach made her mark in the WSU record book in the 600-meter run. Tompach won the event with a time of 1:40.29, putting her in fourth in WSU school history.
Andrea Bartz put together a strong performance in the triple jump. Her total of 37' 1/2" won the event and placed her sixth all-time in the WSU record book.
Hailey Deschaine also came away with a victory in the 60-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 7.97. It was the seventh-best mark in that event in WSU school history.
The Warriors also made their mark in the 60-meter hurdles, as Brittany Dulak set the fifth-best mark in school history with a time of 9.32.
Some other Warrior notables were Hannah Mueller, who finished second in the long jump with a 17' 7 1/2" (5.37-meters) total and Taylor Vogel, who had a third place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.48.
Winona State's next meet will be at the NSIC Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn. on Feb. 26 - 27.
