Sioux Center, Iowa — Allison Birks won two events and finished runner-up in two more in leading the Northwestern College women’s track and field team at the Dordt Invite.
Birks took first in a pair of field events, winning both the high jump and long jump, for head coach Scott Bahrke’s squad. The senior jumped a personal best 5.29m (17-04.25) on her third attempt, one foot further than her teammate, Kaylynn Ridgely, who place second with 16-04.25. Birks also won the high jump in a tie-break over both Cori De Jong (Dordt) and Heather Maier (Mount Marty). All three athletes cleared 1.48m (4-10.25); Birks missed on just three attempts while the other two had four and five misses, respectively.
Birks proceeded to place second in the 200m, edged out at the finish by Betsy Ridout (Morningside) but just ahead of freshman teammate Caitlin Ostbye. Birks completed her outstanding day with a second place finish in the hurdles (9.0).
Northwestern athletes turned in 18 top five finishes in competing for the second time this indoor season. Bahrke’s squad had at least one top five finish in 12 of the 16 events and multiple top five placers in six events.
Caitlin Ostbye, Hunter Koepke, Autumn Muilenburg and Savonne Sterk all finished in the top five in two events.
Women’s Top Five Finishers:
55m:
3. Caitlin Ostbye – 7.53
200m:
2. Allison Birks – 27.11
3. Caitlin Ostbye – 27.13
400m:
2.Abigail Clarke – 1:02
3. Savonne Sterk – 1:03
600m:
2. Morgan Van Der Brink – 1:42
1000m:
5. Autumn Muilenburg – 3:14
Mile:
3. Hunter Koepke – 5:29
4. Autumn Muilenburg – 5:31
3000m:
4. Hunter Koepke – 10:54
5. Anna Hiebner – 10:59
55m Hurdles:
2. Allison Birks – 9.0
4×400: 3rd (Clarke, Jenness, Blankespoor, Sterk) – 4:20
High Jump:
1. Allison Birks -1.48m / 4-10.25
Long Jump:
1. Allison Birks – 5.29m / 17.04.25 (personal best)
2. Kaylynn Ridgely – 4.98m / 16-04.25
4. Lindsey Craig – 15-01.25
Shot Put:
2. Becca Bindert – 12.46m / 40-10.5
5. Emily Kraft – 11.41m / 37-05.25
