VERMILLION, S.D. (April 8, 2023) - The Buena Vista women's track & field team was back in competition this weekend to continue the outdoor schedule by taking part in the University of South Dakota Early Bird Meet. 

On Friday, Becca Simpson highlighted the night for BVU by capturing the title in the javelin throw with a season-best heave of 43.96m (144-2.75) to win by eight feet. She then came back on Saturday and placed fourth in both the shot put (46-10.0) and hammer throw (174-6.5). Her shot put mark tied her own outdoor school record which she most recently set last spring. Courtney Johnson came in 16th in the javelin and 22nd in the hammer but set season bests in both events by seven and five feet, respectively. Mary Yanga came in ninth during the high jump, clearing 5-3.

The 4x100m relay team of Jessica Sump, Katara Jondle, Hannah Olson and Kylie Johnston placed seventh overall at 50.03s and was within three seconds of the school record. Jondle also ran the 400m and came in 13th overall but was within two seconds of the winner. She also ran the 200m dash and came in 17th at 25.47. That mark is just over one second from the school record. Johnston crossed the finish line in a season-best 12.67 during a highly-contested 100m dash. Only two seconds separated the top 35 times.

Buena Vista continues its outdoor slate on April 15 at the Cornell College Invite in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.