Falcons Set Tone On Opening Day Of Outdoor Season

Friday, March 30

Raleigh, N.C.

TBA

Bowling Green State University

Raleigh Relays

March 30, 2018 | Women's Track and Field

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

Raleigh, N.C. – Elizabeth Iversen and Rachel Walny spent little time clinching bids to the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning spots on the opening day of the outdoor season Friday at the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State.

While Iversen earned a bid in the shot put and Walny did the same in the 5000, the Falcons added more strong season debuts Friday.

MAC AUTO BIDS

Rachel Walny ran the 5,000 in 16:27.67, setting a new personal best by almost 10 seconds and surpassing the MAC automatic qualifying mark by almost 30 seconds. She was just over a second shy of BGSU's school record of 16:26.20, set by Sara Collas in 1986.
Elizabeth Iversen posted a large outdoor personal best in the shot put with a distance of 50-feet-3.5 (15.33m). It was almost two feet further than the MAC auto mark and exceeded her previous best distance of 48-10 by almost 18 inches. She moved up to fourth in program history in the event after entering the year in eighth.

MORE STATEMENTS

Aliyah Gustafson and Andrea Weirauch both set personal best marks in the discus. Gustafson missed a MAC auto mark by two inches, throwing 155-4 (47.34m). Weirauch threw 130-2 (39.68m) for a new personal best as well.
Freshman Ryen Draper ran the 400 in 56.78 seconds, less than two seconds shy of a MAC auto bid, in her collegiate outdoor debut. Draper made the finals in the event at the MAC Indoor Championships.
Cortisha Short opened her senior campaign with a solid time of 12.15 seconds in the 100.
After a stunning performance in the high jump at the MAC Indoor Championships by placing third, sophomore Stacey Wolverton used that momentum to clear 5-5 (1.65m) in the invitational flight.
Elena Lancioni set a personal best in the longest even in outdoor track and field – the 10,000. She ran the event in 36:12.59, trimming 11 seconds off of her previous best. That time moves her to 10^th in program history in the event.

UP NEXT

Bowling Green will be back in action for day two of the Raleigh Relays Saturday beginning at 10 am. The Falcons have entrees in the hammer throw, triple jump, javelin, 200 and 400 hurdles. The Falcons will also enter teams in the 400, 800 and 1600 relays.

Raleigh Relays
BGSU Results
100 hurdles – 46. BeJai Fray 16.09
100 – 15. Cortisha Short 12.15, 26. Ryen Draper 12.34, 30. Chasatea Brown 12.38
400 – 9. Ryen Draper 56.78, 40. Brianna Tidmore 59.03
1500 – 48. Jessi Lindstrom 4:38.62, 56. Rachel Durbin 4:39.93
5000 – 21. Rachel Walny 16:27.67
10000 – 39. Elena Lancioni 36:12.59
Sprint Medley Relay – 7. Bowling Green 4:09.14
Shot put – 3. Elizabeth Iversen 15.33m (50-3.5), 30. Daija Young 12.05m (39-6.5)
Discus – 7. Aliyah Gustafson 47.34m (155-4), 24. Andrea Weirauch 39.68m (130-2), 26. Daija Young 38.92m (127-8)
High jump invite – 7. Stacey Wolverton 1.65m (5-5)