Walny, Wheat Hit MAC Auto Marks On Outdoor Track Opening Day

Friday, March 24

Raleigh, N.C.

TBA

Bowling Green State University

Raleigh Relays

March 24, 2017 | Women's Track and Field

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Raleigh, N.C. – The Bowling Green State University outdoor track and field team opened the spring season with strong performances Friday at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State. Rachel Walny and Makenzie Wheat both hit Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying marks with their performances.

While Walny and Wheat paced the team throughout the day, it was Rebecca Schott who set the tone with the squad's first race of the day. In the 5000, the redshirt junior trimmed 19 seconds off her personal best with a time of 16:59.51. That time places her seventh all-time at BGSU. Later in the day, Walny ran the same distance in 16:37.18 to move into second in school history.

Meanwhile, Wheat was going strong in the shot put, throwing 48-feet-8 (14.83m) to earn a MAC automatic qualifying berth and finish fifth overall at the meet, the team's best individual finish of the day.

Bowling Green had two other top 10 finishes as Dorresha Green ran 11.99 seconds in the 100 to finish ninth. In the long jump, Kyla Paster ended 10^th with a jump of 18-1.5 (5.52m). The Falcons also set a handful of personal bests, including Cortisha Short in the 100 (12.30 seconds) and Rachel Durbin in the 1500 (4:39.55)

"We had a positive start to the outdoor season," BGSU Track and Field Coach Lou Snelling said. "Our different groups are at different places in their training, which was reflected in the results today. Specifically, looking at the 5000, it was great to see Rachel and Rebecca make a big impact on our all-time history."

Bowling Green will be back in action Saturday for the second day of the Raleigh Relays. The Falcons get started with the triple jump at noon and will compete in a handful of events, including the hammer throw, the 200 and the 400 hurdles.

RALEIGH RELAYS
BGSU RESULTS
100 – 9. Dorresha Green 11.99, 27. Cortisha Short 12.30, 31. Kyla Paster 12.35, 53. Mis'cha Sellers 12.89
400 – 13. Taylor Rambo 56.65, 46. Rachel Stute 58.79, 47. Brianna Tidmore 58.84, 74. Paige Geatz 61.86
1500 – 68. Rachel Durbin 4:39.55
5000 – 17. Rachel Walny 16:37.18, 26. Rebecca Schott 16:59.51
Shot put – 5. Makenzie Wheat 48-8 (14.83m), 10. Aliyah Gustafson 47-3.5 (14.41m)
Long jump – 10. Kyla Paster 18-1.5 (5.52m), 26. Raven Porter 17-5.25 (5.31m)
Discus – 16. Kayla Velasquez 143-1 (43.62m), 24. Aliyah Gustafson 135-11 (41.42m)