The NMU women’s outdoor track and field team took part in the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday, April 10 at Ferris State University. No team scores were kept, but multiple athletes gave quality individual efforts in multiple events.

NMU head coach Tom Barnes said there was a strong headwind, a wind that worked against the athletes instead of with them, but the team worked through the added challenge.

In the 100-meter dash, sophomore Catherine Angeli earned first with a time of 12.71 seconds.  Freshman Alyssa Erspamer came in fifth at 13.14 and junior Brittnee Balbierz was hot on the trail at 13.18. Angeli took second in the 200-meter dash, missing first place by .01. Balbierz came in fifth at 26.98.

Angeli, Balbierz, sophomore Melissa Christensen and Erspamer took second in the 4×100 relay with a time of 49.06. Grand Valley State University took first (48.40).

Barnes said the handoff has really improved from the last meet, especially because it is a blind handoff.

“They missed the school record by about 0.16 of a second in the 4×100,” Barnes said.

In the field events, Bailey Franklin earned first in the high jump, and Kayleigh Coulson tied for sixth (5-01). Karin Diebold vaulted for third with a measurement of 10-06.

Franklin also captured the long jump, leaping 17-05.25. Christensen and freshman Brooke Granquist were sixth and seventh respectively in the long jump. Franklin came in second in the triple jump (36-11.50).

Junior Angela Leckson threw the shot put 42-04.75 for third, and senior Krista Squiers tossed the discus 118-06 for eighth.

Squiers was victorious in the javelin (114-03) and Leckson followed, earning second (111-07). Squiers also earned third in the hammer throw, tossing 166-07.

The Wildcats will be in Midland, Mich. on Thursday, April 15 to compete in the Northwood Multi-events and the Northwood Invitational on Saturday, April 17.

As the team nears the end of the outdoor spring season, Barnes said the ’Cats are just trying to hone their skills one bit at a time.

“We’re working on the little facets of throws, jumps or running forms,” Barnes said.