A Putiful Season Opener

FARGO, N.D. (2/05/21)--- Cayle Hovland showed no ill effects of the long competition layoff. The junior hadn't competed in a collegiate throwing event in over 340 days, but was able to step back in the circle and win the shot put and finish second in the weight throw at the season-opening NDSU Bison Open.

Concordia had seven Top 5 finishes as they were finally able to compete in the 2021 season.

Hovland, and senior Meritt Miller, led Concordia to a third-place finish at the first meet of 2021 – an event that featured athletes from Division I and Division II schools. The Cobbers were the only DIII school in Fargo on Friday.

Hovland claimed the title in the shot put with a distance of 42-06 which came in her very last throw of the event. Her winning distance is the top mark in the MIAC this season and just under her season-best from last year. Hovland was also second in the weight throw. She came through with a mark of 50-06.25 which was only 1.25 inches behind the event winner from a DII school. Hovlands's weight throw distance is third farthest in the MIAC this season and a career-best for the All-MIAC award winner.

Jacey Schlosser was right behind Hovland in both throw events. She had Top 10 finishes in both events after sitting out last season due to an injury. Schlosser was fourth in the shot put at 39-04.00 – the third farthest throw in the MIAC this year. Her toss of 43-07.75 in the weight throw gave her the No.9 spot in the meet and is the sixth best in the MIAC.

Miller kicked off her senior campaign by winning the 5000 meters. She clocked a 19:12.16 which won the event by almost 14 seconds. It's the first time she has competed in an indoor 5K event since her sophomore season.

The top running event for the Cobbers came in the competitive 800 meters where CC pushed three athletes into the Top 10. Senior Josie Herrmann was second with a time of 2:17.22 while Carly Fornshell was eighth at 2:27.26 and Isabel Fredrickson crossed the line in 2:28.59. Herrmann's time is tops in the MIAC this year and 1.53 seconds faster than her time at the same meet last year.

Freshman Sierra Ramberg had an impressive collegiate debut as she earned a spot in the finals of the 60-meter dash and then raced to a sixth-place finish. She ran an 8.26 in the prelims and was just a bit off that pace in the finals at 8.29. Her time in the prelims is the fourth fastest in the MIAC this year and best among first-year athletes in the league.

Sophomore Carlie Heinecke also qualified for the finals in the 60 meters and finished in seventh place.

UP NEXT: Concordia will host its home opener next Saturday when they welcome Southwest Minnesota State to the Olson Forum for a dual meet at 12 p.m.

COBBER NOTABLES:
NDSU Indoor
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
February 5, 2021

Event winners:
5000 – Meritt Miller – 19:12.16
Shot Put – Cayle Hovland – 42-6 (12.95m)

COBBER ALL-TIME LIST:
60 – Sierra Ramberg – 8.26 – All-Time #11
Weight Throw – Cayle Hovland – 50-6.25 (15.40m) – All-Time #3

PERSONAL RECORDS:
800- Kelly Lorenz; Weight Throw- Cayle Hovland, Jacey Schlosser.

SPONSOR: Tonight's recap sponsor is Fargo Linoleum. Thanks to Fargo Linoleum for their long-time support of Cobber athletics and the Cobber track & field teams.