Falcons Take Fifth at Ripon Red Hawk Invite

RIPON, Wis. - With the conference championships fast approaching, the Falcons traveled to compete in the Ripon Red Hawk Invite, finishing fifth overall with 53.5 points. St. Norbert claimed the title with a team score of 159 points.

In the 60-meter dash, senior Sabrina Moore (Park Ridge, Ill.) secured sixth place with a time of 8.26 seconds, contributing three points to CUW's total.

The Falcons shone in the event as seniors May Hielscher (Macomb, Mich.) and Emma Eilertson (Mukwonago, Wis.) finished first and second, respectively, with times of 9.41 and 9.87 seconds. The duo combined for an impressive 18 team points.

In the 200-meter, freshman Natiya Ballard (Stoughton, Wis.) posted a team-best time of 28.28 seconds.

Sophomore Olivia Ebel (Mt. Clemens, Mich.) also earned points in the 400-meter, finishing with a personal record of 1:03.54 to claim a point for CUW.

Similarly, sophomore Kylee Camble (Milwaukee, Wis.) earned two team points with a seventh-place finish in the 800-meter, clocking in at 2:35.06.

The Falcons continued to rack up points as junior Melanie Arvis (Berwyn, Ill.) took first place in the 3,000-meter, setting a personal record with a time of 10:32.39 and earning 10 valuable team points.

In the high jump, Eilertson and Hielscher added points to CUW's total. Eilertson cleared 1.60 meters to finish third overall, ranking in the top 100 nationally, while Hielscher cleared 1.50 meters to earn two points for the Falcons.

Hielscher also excelled in the long jump, earning bronze with a leap of 5.14 meters, adding six points to the team total.

The Falcons scored in the pole vault as well, with junior Kate Kotula (Wyomissing, Pa.) tying for fifth place with a clearance of 11.19 meters. Sophomore Caitlyn Weitzel (Fallston, Md.) cleared 2.90 meters to secure two points for CUW with a seventh-place finish.

Kotula led the Falcons in the triple jump, recording a mark of 9.80 meters.

In the shot put, sophomore Paige Schreiber (Mukwonago, Wis.) posted a team-best throw of 11.25 meters, finishing ninth overall.

Sophomore Bryanna Mursch (Grafton, Wis.) delivered the Falcons' best performance in the weight throw, recording a distance of 12.61 meters.

Next, the Falcons will turn their attention to the Parkside Classic as they continue to prepare for the upcoming championships.