Select Squad Is Solid At St. Ben's Indoor Invite

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (2/21/15)--- Freshman Vanessa Johnson led a squad of non-spring breakers at the St. Ben's Indoor Invitational on Saturday.

Johnson posted a top Concordia all-time top 10 mark in the 60-meter hurdles, finished second in the high jump and seventh in the long jump as the Cobbers placed sixth at the meet.

Concordia started the annual spring break vacation on Friday so head coach Marv Roeske's numbers were smaller than usual for a meet. The smaller squad made up for the lack of numbers by posting several solid individual performances.

Johnson was the top Concordia athlete at the meet. She ran a 9.81 in the third preliminary heat to qualify for the finals. That time is ninth fastest in program history and fastest since Kaari Jensen ran a 9.38 in 2013. Johnson went on to clock a 9.91 in the finals and finished in fifth place.       

Johnson cleared 5-02.25 in the high jump to record her second-place finish. Johnson currently sits in third place in the MIAC this season in the high jump with a season-best mark of 5-04.25. Johnson then finished off her busy Saturday by jumping 15-08.75 in the long jump. That mark is a season best for Johnson and puts her in the top 20 of the conference.

Several other Concordia athletes had personal best events on Saturday. Sophomore Mandy Mercil was sixth in the shot put with a lifetime best distance of 40-0.00. That mark pushes her into the top 7 of the MIAC and just outside the top 12 on the Cobber all-time career list.

A trio of track athletes also put up lifetime best times in events.  Mackenzie Randklev was fourth in the 1000 meters with a finishing time 3:20.99. That is a lifetime best for the junior and puts her in the top half of the conference.    

Anna Skow-Anderson raced to a PR of 28.96 in the 200 meters as she continues to prepare for the MIAC pentathlon while Tara Anderson clocked a 10.83 in the 60-meter hurdles to better her previous lifetime in the event.

Concordia will continue with their spring break squad when they compete at the Ole Open Qualifier on Friday, Feb. 27 beginning at 4 p.m. at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

COBBER NOTABLES:
COBBER ALL-TIME PERFORMER LIST:
60 Hurdles – Vanessa Johnson – 9.81 – ALL-TIME #9

PERSONAL RECORDS:
200- Anna Skow-Anderson.
1000- Mackenzie Randklev.
60 Hurdles- Vanessa Johnson, Tara Anderson.
Shot Put- Mandy Mercil.