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Northern Michigan University Wildcats women’s track and field team takes last chance to get into NCAA finals

Northern Michigan University redshirt freshman Sydney Romps competes in a hurdles event at Grand Valley State in Allendale earlier this spring. (Photo courtesy NMU)

ROCHESTER — The “last chance” didn’t necessarily pay off for a quintet of Northern Michigan University women’s track and field team athletes, but they still had their chance to qualify for the national meet at the Oakland Last Chance Meet held downstate on Thursday.

Marking the last team meet of a season separated into an earlier indoor and later outdoor segments, the five NMU athletes all competed for the final chance to record a time, distance or other measurement to qualify for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships to be held at Grand Valley State in downstate Allendale from May 26-28.

One Wildcat who competed Thursday, freshman Crystal Walker, had already hit a national qualifying mark in the 100-meter hurdles with her best time of 13.91 seconds that was 17th in the country.

But she wanted to improve her time and more likely insure a spot in the nationals, if possible.

On Thursday, Walker hit 14.21 seconds in the 100 hurdles qualifying and 14.51 in the finals to place third.

Northern Michigan University freshman Crystal Walker, front, competes in a hurdles event at Grand Valley State in Allendale earlier this spring. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Northern had another third-place finish with senior Hannah Jones taking that spot in the 800 in 2:18.65.

Redshirt freshman Sydney Romps was fourth in the 400 hurdles in 1:06.04, while Marquette Senior High School graduate Izabelle Peterson, an NMU senior, was fifth in the 100 dash, clocking 12.25 in the finals after a faster 12.13 in the prelims.

In addition, freshman Ellyse Wolfrath ran the 100 hurdles alongside Walker as Wolfrath clocked 15.39 in the prelims.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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