On the final day of the final conference meet in its final season in the Big Sky Conference, the University of North Dakota track and field team made it a day to remember.
Senior Molli Detloff was named Big Sky Outdoor MVP for the second straight year, juniors Nolan Hovland (high jump) and Detroit Lakes’ Kyley Foster (pole vault) won conference championships.
Foster maxed out with a winning height of 13-0 ¼ (3.97m).
“It wasn’t a great day for jumping. It was cold and a little blustery, but she competed well and hit a very good mark anyway. That’s what you need to do at a conference championship, is battle like that,” said North Dakota Head Coach Kevin Galbraith.
UND jumps coach Joe Silvers said the elements had Foster right in her element.
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"The entire field seemed to be struggling with the cool temps. Kyley really thrives when she has people pushing her and she certainly had that today. To come home a champion is a pretty special thing."
Freshman Autumn Stokes broke a 14-year old school record in the triple jump to lead the Fighting Hawks on Friday.
UND also got all-conference performances from Katelyn Weber (2nd in the shot put), Matt Culhane (2nd in the discus), Chris Evenson (3rd in the discus) and the men's 400-meter relay team (3rd), bringing the team's total podium appearances to 13 on the week.
That's the highest-such number at a conference meet since UND transitioned to Division I a decade ago.
The Fighting Hawks finished fifth in the team standings with the men placing seventh, the best-ever showing for the latter at a Big Sky meet. North Dakota will join The Summit League in 2018-19 but for now, UND coaches and student-athletes were enjoying their Big Sky swan song.
“I had a lot of fun, it was super-exciting, but I am exhausted,” said Galbraith following the meet. “A lot of things from today will stay in my memory for a long time.”
Big Sky Conference Pole Vault1 Foster, Kyley JR North Dakota 3.97m 13-00.25 3.42 3.57 3.67 3.77 3.87 3.97 4.02 --- --- --- O XO O XXX2 Brandon, Danielle SR Sacramento St. J3.97m 13-00.25 3.42 3.57 3.67 3.77 3.87 3.97 4.02 --- --- XO O XXO XO XXX3 Weitz, Macey JR Eastern Washington 3.87m 12-08.253 Prouty, Elizabeth JR Eastern Washington 3.87m 12-08.255 Reichlinger, Elizabeth JR Idaho State 3.77m 12-04.506 Raines, Samantha FR Eastern Washington J3.77m 12-04.507 Swannack, Jessica FR Idaho State 3.67m 12-00.508 Theade, Carter SR Montana State 3.57m 11-08.509 Calabrese, Isabella JR Montana State J3.57m 11-08.509 Woest, Chloe SO Idaho J3.57m 11-08.5011 Davis, Tessa SO Sacramento St. J3.57m 11-08.5012 Seferos, Chloe SO Montana 3.42m
