By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Fort Hays State track and field teams saw one school record go down on the final day of the regular season Sunday afternoon (May 16) at the Loper Twilight #2 hosted by Nebraska-Kearney.
Mattie Rossi broke her own school record in the 400m hurdles, winning the race with a provisional time of 1:00.70. The mark places Rossi in 13th place on the national performance chart and in a prime position for selection to the National Championships. The sophomore also ran in the 100m hurdles, finishing third with a time of 14.49.
Taylor Savolt ran alongside Rossi in both hurdle races, placing second in the 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 1:04.08 while finishing fifth in the 100m hurdles after crossing the line in 15.23.
The men’s team had runners in two races, including the 100m dash and the 800m run. Aaron Mangan placed second in the 800m run with a time of 1:53.81, while Trever Medina placed fifth with a time 1:54.24 and Ethan Lang finishing 10th with a mark of 1:58.69. Cole Diffenbaugh finished in seventh place in the 100m dash with a time of 11.03 with Philip Landrum close behind in ninth with a time of 11.13.
The Tigers will now await the official selection announcements for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, slated to be released Tuesday evening (May 18) on NCAA.com. The Championships are scheduled for May 27-29 in Allendale, Mich.
Full FHSU Results
Women’s 100m Hurdles
3rd – Mattie Rossi – 14.49
5th – Taylor Savolt – 15.23
Women’s 400m Hurdles
1st – Mattie Rossi – 1:00.70 !
2nd – Taylor Savolt – 1:04.08
Men’s 100m Dash
7th – Cole Diffenbaugh – 11.03
9th – Philip Landrum – 11.13
Men’s 800m Run
2nd – Aaron Mangan – 1:53.81
5th – Trever Medina – 1:54.24
10th – Ethan Lang – 1:58.69
Bold indicates NCAA Division II provisional mark
! indicates program record
Saturday
The 11th-ranked Fort Hays State women’s track and field team broke a pair of school records and posted four provisional marks Saturday (May 15) at the Loper Twilight #1.
The 4x400m relay team of Lyric Holman, Taylor Savolt, Emily Salmans and Mattie Rossi capped off the evening with a combined time of 3:45.73, breaking an 18-year-old school record and posting a provisional qualifying mark for the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the process. The time is nearly four seconds faster than the old school record and is currently 13th-best in the country.
Salmans had previously broken another school record, besting her own mark in the 800m with a time of 2:11.68. The sophomore placed third in the race and posted a provisional qualifying mark in the process.
Summer Kragel placed second in the high jump after clearing a provisional height of 5-6. Laurel Haley cleared the provisional threshold in the hammer throw with a toss of 172-11.
Rossi (14.22) and Savolt (14.94) also competed in the 100m hurdles, placing third and sixth, respectively. Maleigha Schmidt placed 10th in the pole vault with an outdoor personal-best clearance of 11-4.25.
A limited number of student-athletes will make one more attempt to improve their national standing at the Loper Twilight #2 on Sunday (May 16) beginning at 3 p.m. The rest of the team will await the official selection announcements on Tuesday (May 18).
Full FHSU Results
800m Run
3rd – Emily Salmans – 2:11.68 !
100m Hurdles
3rd – Mattie Rossi – 14.22
6th – Taylor Savolt – 14.94
4×400 Relay
4th – Lyric Holman, Taylor Savolt, Emily Salmans, Mattie Rossi – 3:45.73 !
High Jump
2nd – Summer Kragel – 5-6
Pole Vault
10th – Maleigha Schmidt – 11-4.25
Taylor Linn – NH
Hammer Throw
6th – Laurel Haley – 172-11
Bold indicates NCAA Division II provisional mark
! indicates program record