GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Valley City State senior Taylor Sargent set a new school record and qualified for nationals with her performance in the 60 meter hurdles Saturday at the UND Open.
Sargent met the NAIA's National Qualifying "B" standard as she crossed the line in 9.10 seconds. That punched her ticket to compete at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship, March 2-4 in Sioux Falls, S.D. It will be Sargent's first appearance at the national meet. She is the second Viking to qualify for nationals this season, joining freshman Jaiden Peraza who has qualified in the men's high jump.
Sargent also broke her own school record in the 60 meter hurdles – besting her previous school record by .12 seconds. Sargent's 9.10 second time came during the preliminary heats of Saturday's large UND Open, which included NCAA Division I teams like UND, NDSU and South Dakota State. The VCSU senior placed ninth out of 31 racers in the 60 hurdles.
VCSU picked up one event championship at the meet as freshman Jaiden Peraza won the men's high jump. Peraza cleared 1.99 meters (6 feet, 6.25 inches) to take first place out of 16 competitors. It was the third meet title for Peraza this season.
VCSU's men totaled 39 points as they placed eighth out of 13 teams at the meet. Freshman Dominic Santiago ran a strong 3,000 meter race to place fourth with a time of 9:13.14. Teammate Noah Rolfe also scored points in the 3,000 as he placed 8th with a time of 9:43.32.
The Vikings also racked up points in the 1,000 meters. Senior Bryce Nelson led the way with a second-place finish and a time of 2:59.16. He was followed by teammates Mason Brehmer and Isaac Eichhorst who placed third and fourth in the event.
Up next: Valley City State will send athletes to the Bison Open on Feb. 3-4 in Fargo.
UND Open – Jan. 27-28
VCSU Women – Top 10 Results
60 Meter Hurdles: 9. Taylor Sargent, 9.10 (School Record, NAIA "B" Standard)
Indoor Discus: 9. Jade Azure, 34.58 meters (113-5)
VCSU Men – Top 10 Results
300 Meters: 9. Clay Kummer, 37.15
1000 Meters: 2. Bryce Nelson, 2:59.16; 3. Mason Brehmer, 3:05.63; 4. Isaac Eichhorst, 3:09.06
3000 Meters: 4. Dom Santiago, 9:13.14; 8. Noah Rolfe, 9:43.32
High Jump: 1. Jaiden Peraza, 1.99 meters (6-6.25)
Triple Jump: 9. Jalen Strickland, 11.29 meters (37-0.5)
