NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame was well represented this weekend as members of the track and field team split to compete at various competitions.
A pair of Irish runners stamped their names in the Irish records books this weekend in Iowa while 16 members of the team earned top-10 finishes in Bloomington, Indiana. Logan Kusky also updated the men’s records with his weight throw performance in South Carolina, breaking the record he previously set last month in the weight throw.
Hoosier Hills
For the second time this season, the Irish traveled to Bloomington, Indiana as they competed at the Hoosier Hills invite. The team was well represented both in the field and on the track, posting 16 finishes in the top-10, including a win in the women’s hurdles.
In The Field
The team started the day off strong with Connor Artman and Colton Crum both finishing in the top-five of their respective events. Artman, who leapt 6.7m took fifth in the long jump while standout Irish pole vaulter, Colton Crum finished fourth with a height of 4.88m.
In the throwers pit, Alesis Juntunen, Shae Watkins and John Stefan all scored towards the top of their events. Competing in shot put, Juntunen took eighth overall with a distance of 13.01m while Watkins and Stefan placed fifth and sixth, respectively, on the men’s side. It was Watkins leading the way for the Irish again in the weight throw, finishing with a distance of 16.32m for seventh overall and Stefan placed 10th when he threw the weight 15.71m.
Mad Dash
Traveling south as part of their final regular season road trip, the sprinters showed great discipline in all their events. Starting the afternoon off, Shae Douglas crossed the line fifth in the 60m dash with a time of 7.80 seconds after qualifying for the finals earlier in the day. Michaela Butler also earned a spot in the final heat of the women’s race where she took eighth with a time of 8.02. On the men’s side, Zachary Zajdel completed the 60m dash finals in 7.04 seconds for a sixth place finish.
Summer Thorpe led the way in the women’s 60m hurdles, having finished the preliminary race atop the standings. She finished the finals heat in just 8.49 seconds to win first overall. Madysen Hunter also competed in the finals of the event, posting a time of 8.97 seconds for sixth at the meet.
Hunter also competed in the 200m dash shortly after where she crossed the finish sixth with a time of 25.33.
In the final race of the day for the Irish in Bloomington, Grace Cronin and Luis Cossio both earned second in the 400m dash with time sof 57.83 and 50.74. Edward Cheatham also ran the 400m dash at a later time where he finished third overall in the championship heat, crossing the line in 48.90.
Iowa State Classic
A handful of distance runners made the trek to Ames, Iowa where they competed at the annual Iowa State Classic. The underclassmen filled large shoes at the meet as four finished towards the top. The women placed three in the top-10 of their events, two of which were freshmen, while the men boasted two.
Going The Distance
First up for the Irish, Maddy Denner took 10th overall in the 3K run, finishing with a time of 9:41.75. Fellow freshman, Jackie Gaughan took fourth overall in the 5K Invite championship race, clocking in with a time of 15:52.63.
Annie Heffernan won the earlier edition of the 5K event, finishing the race in 16:25.57 for first overall in her heat.
A pair of sophomores led the Irish in the two 3K events on the men’s side, cementing themselves in the Notre Dame records books.. Andrew Alexander ran first where he crossed the line in 8:06.16 for second overall and the 10th best time in program history. Yared Nuguse followed up his classmate’s performance with a time of 7:57.55 in the later 3K championship heat, placing seventh overall and fifth all-time in the Notre Dame records.
Tiger Paw Invitational
Logan Kusky led the Irish throwers at Clemson as he improved his impressive season, breaking the school record in the weight throw when he threw for 20.73m on his fifth attempt Saturday. He had previously set the record three weeks ago at the Notre Dame Invitational.
On the women’s side, Abbey Kapitan recorded a distance of 19.55m for eighth overall.
Up Next
The team reunites next Saturday for the annual Alex Wilson Invite and their final regular season contest of the indoor season.
Following the home meet, the Irish will travel to Blacksburg, Virginia to compete at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships February 21-23.