Pleger Sets MAC Hammer Throw Record As Falcons Thrive

Thursday, April 23

Hillsdale, Mich.

TBA

Bowling Green State University

Gina Relays

April 25, 2015 | Women's Track and Field

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

Ashland, Ohio / Hillsdale, Mich. – Brooke Pleger broke the MAC record in the hammer throw and the Bowling Green State University track and field team set no fewer than nine personal bests during a strong day of competition. The Falcon throwers competed at the Ashland Alumni Open and the remainder of the team was at the Gina Relays, hosted by Hillsdale College.

Pleger stole the show at the Ashland Alumni Open, winning the event easily and saving her best for last. On her sixth and final toss of the day, she threw the hammer 225-feet-11 to break her own school record of 223-0. It also broke the MAC record held by former national champion Stevi Large of Akron. She had thrown the hammer 223-4 in 2009.

Pleger, who was already ranked No. 1 in the country this year with a previous season best of 222-4, entered the meet ranked No. 10 all-time among American collegiate hammer throwers. But with her toss, she climbed past Large, former Arizona State student-athlete Jessica Pressley and former Illinois State thrower Brittany Smith to rank seventh all-time in American collegiate history.

"It's not everyday that you break a school record, MAC record, have a national leading mark and are one of the top 10 Americans ever," BGSU head coach Lou Snelling said. "You really have to appreciate how special that is."

While there weren't any school or MAC records broken at the Gina Relays, the BGSU track and field team continued to position itself for a strong MAC Championship performance. On Thursday night, freshman Elena Lancioni, redshirt freshmen Rebecca Schott and Allison Francis and junior Amanda Garlak all set personal best times in the 5000. Running unattached, Lancioni finished the race in 17:37.26. Schott ran a 17:45.34 to beat her previous collegiate best by 16 seconds and Francis ran 18:01.64 to beat her's by 11 seconds. Garlak was almost 25 seconds faster than her outdoor career best with a time of 18:12.46.

But the Falcons weren't done in the 5000, setting two more personal bests Friday night in the championship heat. Junior Becca Rae and redshirt sophomore Mackenzie McMillin both ran Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying races. Rae finished eighth in a time of 17:00.45, more than seven seconds faster than her previous best. McMillin was almost 80 seconds faster than a year ago, completing the 5000 in 17:01.39 to also earn the MAC automatic bid. For the duo, their performances rank them as the sixth and seventh-fastest in BGSU history.

"Becca has been very consistent in the 5k and that's meaningful on a number of levels," Snelling said. "Kenzie took a huge step in her first 5k this season. Rebecca Schott and Elena Lancioni also saw nice improvement in their 5k Thursday night."

Redshirt junior Andrea Alt, who has twice competed at the MAC Championships in the steeplechase, set a new personal best in the 3000 steeplechase with a time of 10:45.79. While she had already reached the MAC auto qualifying mark in the event, she improved her season best by four seconds and surpassed her career best time of 10:46.37, which she set at last year's MAC Championships.

In the 200, senior Brittany Sinclair set a new personal best with a time of 25.04 seconds. Sinclair, who is ranked No. 1 in the MAC in the 400 hurdles and is among the favorites in the 400, moved back to the shorter sprint for the first time since winning the 200 at the Toledo Dual at the beginning of April.

Redshirt junior Alicia Arnold finished second in the long jump with a leap of 18-9.25, while senior Krystin Reiser, who competes in the event for the heptathlon, set a new personal best at 16-9.75. Freshman Sydnee Matthew competed in the heptathlon for the first time in her collegiate career, finishing third with 3,943 points. She posted a strong 100 hurdles time on Thursday, the first day of the meet, with a time of 15.45 seconds.

Bowling Green will continue competition at both the Ashland Alumni Open and the Gina Relays Saturday.

Ashland Alumni Open
Hammer throw invitational – 1. Brooke Pleger 225-11, 8. Kori Reiser 177-7
Hammer throw – 6. Kayla Velasquez 169-1

Gina Relays
200 – 4. Brittany Sinclair 25.04, 9. Taylor Rambo 25.55
400 – 10. Kera Lamotte 59.82
400 hurdles – 8. Natalie Sommerville 1:09.23
5000 – 3. Elena Lancioni (unattached) 17:37.26, 9. Rebecca Schott 17:45.34, 15. Allison Francis 18:01.64, 20. Amanda Garlak 18:12.46
5000 championship – 8. Becca Rae 17:00.45, 10. Mackenzie McMillin 17:01.39, 25. Jasmine Redman 18:21.77
3000 steeplechase – 11. Andrea Alt 10:45.79
Heptathlon – 3. Sydnee Matthew 3,943
Long jump – 2. Alicia Arnold 18-9.25, 12. Kyla Paster 17-2, 14. Krystin Reiser 16-9.75