Josie Herrmann (L) finished 13th in both the 1500 and 800 meter events at the NCAA Meet while Cayle Hovland was 11th in the shot put and 16th in the discus. (Photos courtesy of D3photography)
Josie Herrmann (L) finished 13th in both the 1500 and 800 meter events at the NCAA Meet while Cayle Hovland was 11th in the shot put and 16th in the discus. (Photos courtesy of D3photography)
Posted: May 27, 2021

Herrmann & Hovland Cap NCAA Meet

GREENSBORO, N.C. (5/29/21)---Josie Herrmann (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) and Cayle Hovland (Jr., Willmar, Minn.) capped off their All-Region seasons by posting Top 15 finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championship Meet.

Herrmann placed 13th in both the 1500 and 800 meter events while Hovland was 11th in the shot put and 16th in the discus.

One of the overriding factors of the first two days of the DIII national meet was the heat in Greensboro, N.C. The temperature was almost 90 degrees on both days and the humidity level was high as storms were expected in the area on Saturday.

Herrmann started her first-ever NCAA National Meet experience by running in the 1500 meters on Thursday. She qualified for the event by running a 4:33.94 to win the MIAC title at the conference outdoor meet. Herrmann ran in the second heat at nationals and finished with a time of 4:39.22. She was edged out at the finish line for the 12th, and final, spot in the finals. Herrmann was only .66 of a second from qualifying for the finals in the 1500 meters.

Herrmann's second race came in the near 90-degree heat on Friday. She was in the first heat of the 800 meters, an event she also won at the MIAC Meet with a time of 2:11.67, and placed seventh in the heat with a time of 2:14.27. She was 1.44 seconds off the mark needed to qualify for the finals.

Hovland opener her first-ever national meet appearance by competing in the discus on Thursday afternoon. She qualified for nationals by winning the MIAC title in the event at the conference outdoor meet with a throw of 146-10. Hovland started her NCAA Meet with a distance of 124-11 on her first attempt. She then improved on that mark with her second attempt – and a distance of 126-10. That distance would be her best of the meet as she faulted on her third attempt in the prelims.

Hovland had the day off on Friday before returning to the circle in the shot put on Saturday morning. She qualified for nationals with a mark of 45-05.00 which came in April at the St. Ben's Last-Minute Meet. Hovland's first attempt in the prelims proved to be her best of the day. She posted a distance of 43-09.75 and was in third place after the first flight. She then had to wait to see if she would be one of the Top 9 to qualify for the finals. Unfortunately for Hovland, eight of the 10 athletes in the second flight posted better marks which knocked her down to 11th place. She ended up missing the finals by 3.75 inches.