Bailey & Bookends Lead At Bison Open

FARGO, N.D. (2/03/18)---Bailey Hovland continued her assault at the top marks of the conference in the throwing events and senior Maria West and freshman Josie Herrmann had doubly good meets to lead Concordia at the NDSU Bison Open.

Hovland who had been on fire to start the 2018 season stepped up her game in the weight throw one more notch as she unleashed a throw of 49-05 which is the top distance in the MIAC this season. Her mark is also a career best and ties her for the No.5 spot on the school's all-time record list.

Hovland would also finish 11th in the shot put at the meet with a distance of 36-00.25 which is a foot shy of her best throw this season. Hovland is fifth in the conference in the shot put standings.

West and Hermann were a part of the 11 Top 15 conference marks put up by Cobber athletes at the Bison Open. West earned her Top 15 times in the 800 and 1000 meters. She was ninth in the 800 meters in a time of 2:25.49 which is a season best and the 11th fastest in the MIAC this year. West then clocked a 3:09.55 in the 1000 meters which was good for second place in a race dominated by CC athletes. West's time is No.15 on the conference list this year.

Hermann earned her "double MIAC Top 15" in the 400 and 600 meter events. She finished second in the 600 meters in a time of 1:41.84. That time is the eighth fastest in the league this year. Hermann also cracked into the Top 15 with a time of 1:02.73 in the 400 meters. She is now 14th in the conference.

The other Top 15 marks turned in by Cobbers came from field athletes and the multi-event crew.

Vanessa Johnson put up her best height of the year in the high jump when she cleared 5-01. That mark is tied for eighth in the MIAC. Freshman teammate Corrie Ethen nearly broke into the Top 15 in the event as she cleared a season-best 4-11.00 at the meet.

Throwers Emily Albers and Anna Cassady also cracked into the Top 15 with season best marks. Albers came up with a distance of 34-04.75 in the shot put which vaulted her in No.13 in the MIAC and Cassady recorded a distance of 40-09.50 in the weight throw which is the third best by a Cobbers this year and No.12 on the conference list.

The Concordia pentathlon crew was led by Marissa Andersen who finished seventh at the Bison Open with a score of 2,565 for the five events. That mark is a personal best and the third highest in the MIAC this year.

Freshmen Carly Fornshell and Katie Jobe qualified for the MIAC Meet in the multi-even by putting up scores of 2,001 and 1,948 in their very first collegiate indoor pentathlon.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will get to match up against MIAC competition for the first time this season when they compete in the St. Ben's Invite held at St. John's on Saturday, Feb. 10.