Senior Kristine Wagner sets new school record to lead Women's Track & Field at the Gregory Invitational

By Ashley Birchmeier

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Ohio Northern women's track and field team sent select members to the Gregory Invitational hosted at North Central College in hopes of posting NCAA qualifying marks Wednesday and Thursday.

Senior Kristine Wagner led the Polar Bears in the meet as she set a new school record in the heptathlon with 4,399 points, qualifying for the NCAA meet next week.

Wagner broke the previous school record of 4,203 points set by Alisa Dentinger in 2000.

The senior finished sixth overall, garnering 746 points in the 100-hurdles, 678 points in the high jump, 472 points in the shot put, 754 points in the 200-meter run, 565 points in the long jump, 504 points in the javelin throw, and 680 points in the 800-meter run.

Sophomore Emily Richards also found success in the meet as she broke the school record in the 400-meter dash winning the event with an NCAA qualifying time of 55.14.

She is currently ranked fourth in the nation in the event. 

Junior Allie Gast claimed a fourth place finish in the 100-hurdles in 15.02. Gast will enter nationals ranked 18th.

In the triple jump, junior Kelsey Commager finished first with a leap of 37 feet 4 inches.

Senior Rebekah McCutchen finished 14th in the 5,000-meter run in 19:06.68.

The Polar Bears also sent select members to Ohio Wesleyan to compete in the Great Lakes Elite Meet.

Freshman Maddy Reed competed in the pole vault finishing fourth with a height of 12 feet 3.5 inches. She is currently ranked 10th in the nation in the event.

Senior Sarah Ballmer claimed a fifth place finish in the pole vault with a height of 11 feet 9.75 inches.

In the hammer throw, senior Michaela Dramis finished ninth with a pitch of 152 feet 8 inches.

Northern returns to the track next week as they compete at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted in Wartburg, Iowa.