By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
AZUSA, Calif. – The Fort Hays State track and field team saw two school record go down while posting four NCAA DII provisional qualifying marks on day one of the Bryan Clay Invitational Wednesday (April 13).
Gretchen Kuffel broke a 12-year-old school record in the 3,000m steeplechase after crossing the line in a provisional qualifying time of 10:50.51. She beat the previous school record by nearly 22 seconds.
Robbie Schmidt capped off the day with a record-breaking performance in the invitational section of the 10,000m run. After breaking the 5,000m record earlier this season, the senior placed fifth overall out of 47 competitors with a time of 29:22.63, more than 22 seconds faster than the old school record set in 2015. He was second amongst collegiate competition and was first amongst DII athletes.
Mattie Rossi wrapped up day one in the heptathlon with 3,165 points through four events. She opened the day with a provisional qualifying time of 13.84 in the 100m hurdles, good for 1,001 points. It was one of just four single-event scores in excess of 1,000 points all day in the field of 77 athletes. Rossi is currently 19th overall. Taylor Savolt is 32nd in the field with a four-event total of 2,948 points. Her top event was also the 100m hurdles, where she grabbed 870 points after crossing the line in 14.79.
Nolan Churchman finished the first half of the decathlon with 3,974 points, good for third out of 41 athletes in the field. He finished the day with an NCAA DII provisional qualifying time in the 400m dash, completing the lap in 47.65 for 926 points. Jack Pakkebier picked up 3,283 points across the first five events, including a top total of 819 after running the 400m dash in 49.91.
The multi-athletes will wrap up competition on Thursday (April 14) with a few more TIgers joining the competition before the rest of the squad competes on Friday.
Full FHSU Results
Women
3,000m Steeplechase
28th – Gretchen Kuffel – 10:50.51 ! #
Heptathlon
19th – Mattie Rossi – 3,165
100mH – 13.84 – 1,001 #
HJ – 5-4.5 – 783
SP – 30-11 – 492
200m – 24.98 – 889
LJ –
JT –
800m –
32nd – Taylor Savolt – 2,948
100mH – 14.79 – 870
HJ – 5-2.25 – 712
SP – 31-8.5 – 507
200m – 25.30 – 859
LJ –
JT –
800m –
Men
10,000m Run
7th – Robbie Schmidt – 29:22.63 ! #
3rd – Nolan Churchman – 3,974
100m – 10.83 – 899
LJ – 22-5 – 774
SP – 38-11.5 – 599
HJ – 6-5.5 – 776
400m – 47.65 – 926 #
110mH –
DT –
PV –
JT –
1,500m –
27th – Jack Pakkebier – 3,283
100m – 11.40 – 774
LJ – 20-8 – 652
SP – 38-5.5 – 589
HJ – 5-2.25 – 449
400m – 49.91 – 819
110mH –
DT –
PV –
JT –
1,500m –
! indicates school record
# indicates NCAA DII provisional qualifying mark