Women's track and field prep two more for nationals

Junior Kara Drewke ran on the Lady Eagles' national-qualifying 400-meter relay and placed ninth in the individual 400-meter race. — Junior Kara Drewke runs on the Lady Eagles national-qualifying 400-meter relay and places ninth in the individual 400-meter race. *Online Photo*

The Lady Eagles track and field team’s visit to the Central Oklahoma Indoor Invitational in Norman, Oklahoma was highlighted by season-best and national-qualifying times from two runners.

Paradise Henson, a freshman, placed second in the 200-meter with a time of 26.62 and sophomore Maci Rich posted a time of 5:21.87 in the mile, earning fourth.

Rich said she was pleased with her individual and team’s performance at the meet, but was a little unsure to start off.

“I was a little nervous going into the meet,” Rich said. “I was placed in the fast heat out of 3 heats and wasn’t sure how well I would compete. But I ended up racing really well.”

Rich moved up multiple slots in the final laps and recorded a personal-best time.

“Throughout the race I was in like eighth place and with three laps to go,” Rich said. “Then I started picking it up and caught a group of girls in front of me and held on and ended up getting fourth and having a PR of 5:21. I felt really good and excited to finish that well.”

The Oklahoma Christian University 4×400-meter relay team also posted national-qualifying times, placing third with a 4:13.37. The relay team consisted of Rebecca Bloodworth, Kara Drewke, Wilmina Gley and Maegan Cowan.

Field competitor Miranda Ostlund posted a national-qualifying throw, finishing at 46 feet-9 inches.

The Lady Eagles recorded good times that didn’t quite qualify for the national meet, Track and Field Head Coach Randy Heath said.

Sarah Dibiasi finished sixth in the high jump with a mark of 4 feet-9 inches. Kathryn Ostlund, sister of Miranda, posted a mark of 38 feet-11 1/2 inches in the weight throw, placing ninth.

Gley and Kara competed in the 400-meter placing seventh and ninth, with times of 1:04.04 and 1:04.47, respectively. Finally, Cowan competed in the 800-meter, placing eighth with a time of 2:28.72.

Heath said he was pleased with the team’s showing at the Indoor Invitational and is excited to see what the rest of the season holds for these women.

The Lady Eagles’ next meet is the Lion Invitational, Friday and Saturday at Missouri Southern in Joplin, Missouri.