By Jami Sponaugle
De Pere, Wis. - On Friday and Saturday, the Scarlet Hawks men's and women's outdoor track & field competed in De Pere, Wis. at St. Norbert College where the 2023 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships took place.
Both sides finished in 8th place in the team rankings, with the women scoring 41 points, and the men scoring 25 points.
Olivia Jameson earned the honors of NACC Freshman of the Year after placing first in high jump, clearing 1.60 meter, placing 5th in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.96, 5th in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.82, and 4th on the 4x400 meter relay team with a time of 4:10.30
Scarlet Hawk Women's Highlights
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The 4x400 team of Zoe Turner, Gabriella Baltes, Olivia Jameson, and Amelia Moseman broke the school record with a time of 4:10.30.
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London Francis improved her school record in hammer throw with a distance of 35.74m.
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Annika McKown set the school record in the Heptathlon with a total of 2,934 points.
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Jameson placed first in high jump with a height of 1.60m.
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Jameson ran the 100m dash in a time of 12.96, ranking her 2nd all-time.
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McKown jumped a distance of 4.73m in long jump, ranking her 2nd all-time.
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Bella Ortiz jumped a distance of 3.78m in long jump, improving her 8th all-time ranking.
Scarlet Hawk Men's Highlights
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The 4x400 team of Stewart Nelson, Zach Barisa, Evan Balizado, and Noah Butzman broke the school record and placed 3rd with a time of 3:25.28.
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Christian Allen ran the 200m dash in a time of 23.18, ranking him 4th all-time.
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Nelson ran the 400m dash in a time of 51.72, improving his 4th all-time ranking.
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Barisa ran the 800m run in a time of 1:58.38, ranking him 4th all-time.
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Jay Lomax threw a distance of 27.62m in hammer throw, ranking him 6th all-time.
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Isaiah John threw a distance of 24.59m, ranking him 7th all-time.
Head Coach Tyler McQuality's Comments
"Wow, what a way to end the season. I am extremely proud of how our team worked to preserve a long season and ended it on such a high note. This year has been highlighted by nothing but growth from the biggest combined roster we have ever had. I can't wait to see what the years to come will bring!"
Assistant Coach Kasey Jones Comments
"The team has been working all season toward this weekend and we really saw that! Huge Pr's were coming left and right along with several school records! Us coaches were so excited to see all their hard work pay off! Now onto next season!
Assistant Coach Ed Harvey's Comments
"It was an excellent showing for the last meet. Everyone had been putting in work since the fall and we couldn't be prouder. It was a privilege to be able to work with them everyday."
2023 Recap
Throughout the 2023 outdoor season, multiple school records and all-time rankings were set and broken at every meet.
School records that were set throughout the 2023 season include the women's 200m dash (Zoe Turner), the women's 400m dash (Amelia Moseman), the women's 100m hurdles (Olvia Jameson), the women's 4x100m relay (Turner, Jameson, Valarie Lending, Moseman), the women's 4x400m relay (Turner, Gabriella Baltes, Jameson, Moseman), high jump (Jameson), hammer throw (London Francis), Heptathlon (Annika McKown), the men's 4x100m relay team (Stewart Nelson, Noah Butzman, Trevor Whitlatch, Christian Allen), and the men's 4x400m relay team (Nelson, Zach Barisa, Evan Balizado, Butzman)
Congratulations to the Hawks seven seniors for their careers as Scarlet Hawks and their contributions to Illinois Tech both on and off the track: Christian Allen, Evan Balizado, Jay Lomax, Louis Ketchman, Trevor Whitlatch, Alexander Dhom, and Kenna Flores.
The Scarlet Hawks track & field team will return to action in the winter of 2023 for the indoor track & field season.