Field Events Highlight Day Two Action at the B1G North Florida Invitational

Saturday, April 3

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

Michigan State University

B1G North Florida Invitational

Field Events Highlight Day Two Action at the B1G North Florida Invitational

4/3/2021 9:35:00 PM | Track and Field

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State track & field completed action B1G North Florida Invitational, Saturday in the Big Ten-only meet in Jacksonville, Florida. The Spartan field events took center stage with some of the days' best performances.

Iowa was the host for this Big Ten neutral-site event that was held at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.

"Sometimes the weather doesn't play out or the trip doesn't play out, but you have to find a way to be at your best. There are going to be things that are out of their control. Unfortunately I don't think we did a great job of that this weekend. When you have a meet that well and with perfect conditions like last week, I think there is a misconception that it might still be easy the second time," Interim Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "The good news is that it is early and these are teachable moments. If we choose to learn from the weekend, then we can get better. If we choose to dwell then we won't make progress."

Senior Jerimiah Evans was just edged for the title in the men's discus invite to finish second with a throw of 57.03m. Minnesota's Kaleb Siekmeier finished first with a best throw of 57.04m. Evans registered his best throw of the day on his fifth attempt.

The throwers continued to have a strong day as senior Rebecca Mammel set a new personal best in the women's discus open. She finished seventh with a throw of 46.42m on her sixth attempt.

Senior Brittany Biddle had a big day in the women's javelin. With her second throw of the day, she set a new personal with a throw of 48.17m. Last week, she threw 47.15m at the Big Ten Invite #1 in Bloomington.

In the men's discus open three Spartans were in action. Sophomore Ryan Talbot (42.50m) and senior Wade Walder (42.35m) both set personal bests.

Senior Haley Rathwell was just shy of her personal best when she ran a 1:02.87 in the 400m hurdles to finish in seventh place. Her PR was a 1:02.42 at the Louisville Invitational in 2019. In the 200m invite, senior Brooke Bogan started the outdoor season with a time of 24.39. In the 200m open, junior Shakira Dancy recorded a new personal with a time of 24.23 to finish fourth. Junior Olivia Lopez also registered a PR with a time of 24.84.

"I thought that Jaiden Paris did a nice job, continuing to be her best, make progress and grow. Ryan Talbot continuing to create momentum and take steps forward along with Wade Walder. I think they both will be fantastic when they can put the multis together. Brittany Biddle was once again on dis play and doing a great job. As a group, we just need to work on that consistency factor," Breznau said.

In the women's pole vault, juniors Sophia Franklin and Calli Ostapowicz both finished with vaults of 3.75m. On the men's side, sophomore Ryan Talbot finished ninth with a best vault of 4.91m, in his first outdoor pole vault event.

The meet concluded with the women's and men's 4x400m relays. The women's team of Jaiden Paris, Haley Rathwell, Tamea Mckelvy and Shakira Dancy finished in a time of 3:53.66 to take ninth. In the men's relay, the team of Zach DiStefano, Antonio Postell, Joseph McCarthy and Kendel Hammock took sixth with a time of 3:18.87.

The Spartans are back in action on April 9-10 at the Big Ten Indiana Invite #2 in Bloomington, Indiana.