Final Results
TIFFIN, Ohio – The PA announcement reverberated throughout the Heminger Center so everyone knew what was at stake in the final event of the day.
The winner of the 4x400-meter relay, either Tiffin or Hillsdale, was going to be crowned conference champions.
It was the foursome from Hillsdale, Alanna O’Leary, Judith Allison, Jillian Roney and Dakota Stamm, that combined to bring it home for the Chargers in a very exciting finish to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship.
Their teammates ran from all parts of the venue to celebrate at the finish, the first greeter being elated head coach Andrew Towne.
The winning time of 3:58.04 edged out Tiffin and thwarted a home bid by the Dragons, ranked 13th nationally, for a repeat league crown. Hillsdale scored 10 final points, making the final tally 149 to 147.5.
The Chargers secured their sceond indoor conference title in three seasons, using a balanced combination of points from track and field events to get the job done. This continues an impressive 2019-20 academic year after Hillsdale has won swimming & diving, volleyball and cross country -- all on the women’s side.
Towne coaches both cross country and track and field programs.
HC’s lightning-quick Kajsa Johansson set a conference meet record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.76. She also made the podium as a third-place finisher in the 60-meter dash.
The Chargers also went 2-3 in the 3K race with the help of distance specialists senior Arena Lewis and junior Maryssa Depies. HC also went 2-3 in the 400-meter run courtesy of Stamm and O’Leary scoring more points.
Freshman Gwynne Rliey also placed third in the 800-meter run and Depies was third in the mile to cap a strong day two for the Chargers after Walsh came in with the team lead.
Hillsdale overcame a trio of meet records by Tiffin, notably Brenda Johnson in the shot put, Marisa Gwinner in the high jump and Rajiah Andrews in the 60-meter dash. Gwinner broke away from a three-way tie among all DII auto qualifiers with a new PR of 1.80m cleared.
Gwinner is the defending national champion after winning the high jump as a freshman.
Individual award winners recognizing most outstanding performers for the meet were also voted upon by the league’s coaches at the conclusion.
The Great Midwest Freshman of the Meet went to Tiffin’s Keyonna McGill, who had three different runner-up finishes. She was second in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and as a member of the 4x4 relay.
Walsh senior Andra Lehotay won everything she ran in and the middle distance star was voted Great Midwest Track Athlete of the Meet. The two-time conference athlete of the week for 2019-20 won the 800m, mile and was on the first-place distance medley relay.
The Great Midwest Field Athlete of the Meet went to Tiffin’s Jazilee Wiilliams. Williams entered in many events and won titles in the pentathlon and long jump. She also a set a new meet record in the pentathlon and placed second in the 60-meter hurdles.