ST. PAUL, Minn. - Down the road from UNW, the University of Northwestern Women's Track and Field team competed in the Hamline Invitational, taking full advantage of the glorious weather. With only one day between meets, the Eagles used today to regain their legs, racing in several new or different events in pursuit of chasing new PR's. Despite this mindset, multiple runners earned new career marks throughout the evening.

The biggest moment of the meet came in the shortest event, where breakout freshman Alaina Wojtowski (Oshkosh, Wis./Valley Christian) broke a Northwestern record that has withstood the test of time, holding the top spot for nearly 40 years. Sonya Bugbee ran the 100-meter dash in 12.68 seconds in 1987, and today, Wojtowski ran it in 12.45 seconds, becoming the fastest ever to run this event in a Northwestern uniform. Her time placed her third overall, behind two unattached runners from the University of Minnesota. Making this feat even more impressive, Wojtowski had just completed a personal record in the open 400m (1:09.13) before turning around to run the 100.

Emily Ashton (Camas, Wash./St. Mary's Academy) continued the Northwestern success, as she won the javelin throw with a toss of 32.89m (107' 11"). She also threw in the discus and finished 17th with a distance of 27.55m (90' 4"). Grace Mangelsen (Siren, Wis./Siren) joined Ashton in the discus event, finishing two places ahead of her teammate with her throw of 28.27m (92' 9"). The sophomore collected a personal record in the shot put as well, which she threw earlier in the meet. Her throw of 8.77m (28' 9.25") surpassed her previous record by .07 meters and her season best by .6 meters to finish 17th overall.
  
Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) added a podium finish of her own, placing 2nd in the 800m. In her lone event of the day, she exchanged the lead with a runner from Concordia Moorhead in an exciting battle, falling by just 0.14 seconds. She notched a 2:17.80 finish. Also in the 800m were Mariah Klippenes (South Haven, Minn./Annandale), Samary Acuna (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley), Chloe Zimmerman (Helena, Mont./Capital), Alicia Arredondo (Robbinsdale, Minn./Homeschool), and Olivia Usselman (Stillwater, Minn./Math and Science Academy). Klippenes was the next Eagle to cross the line at 2:38.70 in 14th place. Acuna took home a new personal record with her 2:39.90 finish in 16th. The final three Northwestern runners came in 20th, 21st, and 23rd with times of 2:44.27, 2:46.24, and 2:51.71, respectively.

With two new career best runs, Emily Neumann (St. Agusta, Minn./Sauk Rapids) enjoyed her day at the track. She ran in both the 400m and the 200m, lowering her personal records in both. In the 400-meter dash, Neumann finished 10th with her 63.53-second finish. She then placed 20th with her time of 28.01 in the 200.

Joining Neumann and Wojtowski in the 400m was Lily Hubbard (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes). Hubbard also recorded a new personal best time of 1:14.85 for 20th place. In her main event, the high jump, she jumped a season best and finished 4th overall. The height of 1.50m (4' 11") tied her for second place; however, the tie breaker moved her to 4th.

After her well-rounded performance on Saturday, Katie Shilts (Cameron, Wis./Cameron) turned in another solid day in the long jump. She finished 13th with her jump of 4.71m (15' 5"). She also ran in the 100m, turning in a time of 13.21 seconds.

In the longest event of the evening, the 5,000-meter run, two Eagles broke their personal best times. Natalie Van De Riet (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) hauled through the 12 laps and crossed the finish line over three minutes faster than she's ever run at 19:15.92 to finish 16th. Behind her, Cheyanne Scalese (Lancaster, Minn./Lancaster Public) stopped the clock at 19:52.97 for her 23rd-place finish. And Torah Barrett (Belle Plaine, Minn./Jordan) followed in 32nd with a time of 22:30.52.

To wrap up the great day for UNW, the 4x400 team of Jessica Redman (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam), Kimberlyn Case (Sleepy Eye, Minn./Litchfield), Klippenes, and Acuna took 3rd with a new season best time of 4:27.12.

The Eagles have a twelve-day gap to recover before their next meet at Bethel University for the Gene Glader Classic on April 11th.