RIPON, Wis. -- Ripon College track and field welcomed teams to the Fieldhouse on Saturday for the Red Hawk Invite, turning in a full day of strong performances across sprints, distance, relays, and field events. Competing on their home track, the Red Hawks showed depth and balance with numerous top finishes and personal bests throughout the meet.
On the women's side, Ripon picked up key points in both track and field events. Junior Sidney Hoffa (Coloma, Wis., Westfield Area HS) claimed the long jump title with a mark of 5.26 meters, while freshman Ren Fritz (Bozeman, Mont., Gallatin HS) and junior Heleyna Weiss (Cedarburg, Wis., Living Word Lutheran HS) also scored in the event. Junior Madylyn Woyak (Wautoma, Wis., Wautoma HS) placed second in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 1:00.64, and sophomore Tatum Trudell (Albany, Ore., South Albany HS) added an eighth-place finish in the 200 meters. The women's 4x400 relay team of Fritz, Woyak, Trudell, and Weiss finished second overall, continuing Ripon's success in relay events.
The men posted solid efforts across the middle distances and field events. Junior Adisun Romprey (Pearson, Wis., Wabeno HS) led the Red Hawks in the 800 meters with a fifth-place finish, while freshman Drew Kaufmann (Watertown, Wis., Watertown HS), freshman Parker Blakeslee (Sterling, Ill., Sterling HS), and sophomore Corne du Toit (Batavia, Ill., Batavia HS) turned in consistent performances in the mile. In the field, freshman Napolean Doster (Miami, Fla., Rockmart HS) finished fifth in the long jump, and sophomore Nick Trzebiatowski (Rosholt, Wis., Rosholt HS) added points with a fifth-place finish in the triple jump. The men's 4x400 relay teams battled through a competitive field to close out the meet.
Ripon also saw contributions from its throwers, with freshman Carlie Priesgen (Lomira, Wis., Lomira HS) scoring in the women's shot put and junior Braedy Picard (Neenah, Wis., Xavier HS) leading the Red Hawks in the weight throw. Across the board, Ripon athletes gained valuable experience and momentum as the postseason approaches.
IWU Multi + Keck Select Highlights
While the Red Hawks hosted the Red Hawk Invite, two distance standouts competed at Illinois Wesleyan during the IWU Multi + Keck Select. Senior Jenny Cortes (Round Lake, Ill., Round Lake HS) posted a season-best time of 5:11.39 in the mile, while sophomore Joley Berger (Dunbar, Wis., Pembine HS) continued her impressive season with a personal-best 9:51.39 in the 3000 meters, ranking No. 24 in Division III. With this time, Berger set another school record, breaking her own record time of 10:02.10, set last weekend.
Ripon will return to the Fieldhouse next Saturday, Feb 14, to host the Dick Hendricks Invite, continuing a busy and successful stretch of home competition.
