Throwers, jumpers shine for Lady Eagles at OBU

Miranda Ostland throwing the javelin at Southwestern on March 12. — Sophomore Miranda Ostland throws the javelin at the Southwestern Invitational on March 12. *Photo by Roxie Gonzalez*

The Lady Eagles posted three runner-up finishes and one first-place winner in field events at the Oklahoma Baptist University meet on March 28.

Senior Katie Ostlund won the javelin toss with a top mark of 143 feet, 2 inches. Her new number is 3 1/2 feet off of her school record in this event, but the mark she threw on Thursday is the longest of the NCCAA outdoor season so far.

Ostlund’s sister Miranda was two places behind her sister, taking third in the same event with a mark of 116 feet, which is a qualifier for the national meet. Miranda competed in the hammer throw as well, placing second with a top throw of 152 feet, 8 inches — also a national-qualifier.

Although the Ostlunds were the highlights, they weren’t the only standouts for the field team at the OBU meet. Basketball players, McKenzie Stanford and Makenzie Brown competed in field events as well. Stanford finished second in the high jump with a top posting of 5 feet 5 inches, while Brown threw the discus and placed third with a throw of 124 feet, 11 1/4 inches. Both Stanford’s and Brown’s top marks were NCCAA qualifiers.

In the track events, Oklahoma Christian had a runner-up finish from freshman Paradise Henson in the 100-meter sprint. Henson posted her best time of the season with a mark of 12.34 seconds. Henson also ran in the 200-meter and posted a time of 25.90, placing her at sixth. Both of these times met the national qualifying standard.

Junior Kara Drewke said she and her team were looking to place highly, beat previous performances and qualify more team members.

“I am looking forward to improving my time and our team having more individuals qualifying for nationals,” Drewke said. “Also I am mostly concentrating on my 400-meter hurdles but also focusing on sprint work to help my relays.”

Drewke was a key member in the 4×400-meter relay team that posted a season-best time of 4:07.47. The team consisted of Rebecca Bloodworth, Wilmina Gley, Drewke and Maegan Cowan. Their time was national-qualifying material.

Cowan ran in the 400-meter and her time of 1:00.21 was a season-best and a national-qualifier.

Maci Rich was the highlight for the Lady Eagles’ distance runners, as she placed fourth in the 1500-meter race with a time 0f 4:51.98 — a season best and a national-qualifying time.

Head Coach Randy Heath said he was pleased with the women’s showing at the OBU meet and is excited to see what the rest of the outdoor season holds.

The Lady Eagles will continue their outdoor season when they travel to Kansas for the Emporia State relays on April 4.