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Harper leads NMU track in Wisconsin

By Steve Brownlee 3 min read
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)

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)

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.

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