Runners from at least four schools, including Northern Michigan University, line up in rainy conditions for the start of the women’s 5,000-meter run at the Ashton May Invitational held at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday. The four Wildcats taking part are each of the runners wearing a white headband. From left are NMU’s Ashley Choponis, Madalyn Agren, Madi Szymanski and Sophia Potter. (Photo courtesy NMU)

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Senior Beverly Harper secured an event victory to lead the track and field team of Northern Michigan University at the Ashton May Invitational held at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.

She and her fellow Wildcats ran, jumped and threw in cold and rainy conditions, also picking up eight other top-three podium finishes and 14 total finishes in the top five as team scores weren’t kept.

Harper won the 800-meter run by about a second and a half in 2 minutes, 15.73 seconds, while junior teammate Lana Mac was seventh in 2:22.86.

Manistique High School graduate and NMU sophomore Danielle Lund had two podium finishes, finishing second in the hammer throw with a distance of 52.71 meters (172 feet, 11 1/4 inches) and third in the discus with a distance of 40.49 meters (132-10 1/8). Senior teammate Teiolla Harvey was 10th in the hammer with 43.29 meters (142-0 3/8).

Senior Madi Szymanski was runner-up in the 5,000 in 17:07.10, with senior teammate Sophia Potter third in 17:12.23 and freshman Ashley Choponis sixth in 18:20.49.

The Wildcats had a 2-3-4-5 finish in the triple jump, sophomore Alayna Vandegriff leading the way as runner-up with a leap of 10.49 meters (34-5), then freshman Allison Schinke third with 10.05 meters (32-11 5/8), freshman Gabi Lainhart fourth with 9.75 meters (31-11 7/8) and sophomore Maddy Rasmussen fifth with 9.47 meters (31-0 7/8).

In the 3,000 steeplechase, senior Dani Van Lente was third in 11:35.02, sophomore Anya VanSweden fourth in 11:37.54 and sophomore Celia Wallace seventh in 11:46.69.

Sophomore Ella DeBruyn was third in the 1,500 in 4:43.04, while Marquette product Baux Truckey was fourth in the 400 in 58.82 seconds.

In the 4-by-400 relay, Northern’s quartet of sophomore Lola Korpi — an Ishpeming product — Mac, Brooke Lemos and Harper were fifth in 4:10.60.

In the 400 hurdles, freshman Maya Wood was sixth in 1:06.50 and freshman Lily Phillips ninth in 1:07.45.

Harvey finished eighth in the javelin with a toss of 31.81 meters (104-4 3/8), while junior Natasha Nowakowski was ninth with 31.38 meters (102-11 1/2).

Freshman Jordan Sprik was eighth in the shot put with a heave of 9.73 meters (31-11 1/8).

Up next for the Wildcats is a return to Wisconsin for the UW-Oshkosh Titan Invitational in Oshkosh on Friday and Saturday. The following week is what has become an annual trip to California for multiple meets over a three-day weekend in the Golden State. 

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.