Solid outdoor opener
The early start to the outdoor season went successfully for the Jimmies, especially the Roemmichs.By: Dave Selvig, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun
The early start to the outdoor season went successfully for the Jimmies, especially the Roemmichs.
Jamestown College athletes combined for seven-first place performances — three by the Roemmichs — at the Blue Hawk Open on Saturday in Dickinson.
Neither JC team brought its entire roster, but still fared well against Minot State, U-Mary and Dickinson State.
“It wasn’t a bad start especially considering we’re still a little rusty being off four about a month,” JC men’s coach Ed Crawford said. “We didn’t bring everybody, but there were a lot of good things there. It was a beautiful day. Could be the best day we get all season, you never know.”
The men had four top-place efforts, while the women had three.
Kayla Roemmich led the Jimmie women with a sweep of the shot put and discus.
“We did not place in a throwing event in the indoor season, so what a breath of fresh air to have Kayla join us,” JC women’s coach Jim Clark said. “She was our leading scorer for the day with 13 points. Just a great day for the whole Roemmich family.”
Trent Roemmich picked up where he left off in the hurdle races. The sophomore from Linton qualified for nationals in the 400 hurdles.
Five different JC athletes won events in the meet, which was added due to the mild late-winter and early-spring weather.
Kayla Roemmich, the sister of Trent and Scott Roemmich, didn’t need much prep time after the basketball season. She easily beat the field in both the shot (37-11.50) and discus (126-3).
Roemmich won the low hurdles in the national-qualifying time of 54.12. His brother Scott was the only real competition in second at 56.05.
“Trent ran really well. Scott was in there pretty close too,” Crawford said.
Trent nearly made it a sweep of the hurdles. His 15.47 in the 110 was second to only Nathan Magstadt of Dickinson State (15.02).
The Jimmie men got two more wins on the track and another in the field.
Jarann Johnson was nearly unbeatable in the 400 during the indoor campaign and wasted no time notching win No. 1 of the season Saturday with a time of 50.29, his second-fastest ever. He also hung a 23.49 in the 200 and ran his best split in the 4x400 relay, where they placed second (3:29.02).
Rob Nelson had a first and third throwing, spinning the discus a winning 145-5. He had two attempts that were even better — national-qualifiers — but fouled on each. He was also third in the shot (43-3). Garrett Tenney was third in the discus (136-11).
“He did well. Once he learns to stay in, he’ll qualify,” Crawford.
Nate Christensen won the 800 in a tight race with Delano Lilly, 1:58.48-1:58.85.
“That was a good win for Nate,” Crawford said.
Freshman Matt Johnson had two nice jumps. He was second in the triple (44-5.50) and fifth in the long (20-4.25).
“(Triple) was a lifetime best by a foot. He had a really nice day,” Crawford said.
Kayla Byle had the other first-place effort for the Jimmies.
Despite feeling under the weather, she led a 1-2-3-4 JC effort in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:07.95, and also ran quick legs in the second-place 4x100 (43.89) and 4x400 that was third (3:29.02).
Kayla Schumacher had a strong day hurdling. The Jamestown product was second in the 100 (17.67) and third in the 400 (71.74).
Taylor Miller had a big PR of 26.69 to cross second in the 200.
Mallory Souder and Kadie Savage also had one second apiece.
Souder got hers in the 1500 (5:14.87), while Savage, a basketball player, followed Byle across in the 400 hurdles (1:08.43).
Elsewhere, Beth Segerholm’s 115-6 was good for third in the javelin.
Josie Bopp, from Oakes, had the top long jump of the season so far with a 16-8.50 for fifth.
“Any first meet, whether indoor or outdoor, is a beginning point. In some cases we are beginning at a higher level than I thought and in other areas, we have much more work to do,” Clark said. “It was sure a fun day and I am proud of the results.”
The Jimmies head next to Aberdeen for the Northern State Invitational on Friday.
Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com
Tags: track and field, college sports, sports, jimmies, track
More from around the web
RSS Feeds