DICKINSON, N.D. – Jaiden Peraza qualified for the national championships in the high jump on Sunday as the Viking track and field teams competed at the Blue Hawk Games in Dickinson.
 
Peraza cleared a personal-best height of 2.05 meters (6-8.75) to take first place at the meet. That height met the NAIA's "B" standard to qualify for nationals and currently ranks him eighth in the nation. Peraza previously qualified for nationals during the indoor season.
 
Also on Sunday, VCSU sophomore Kenda Odegard announced herself as a national title contender in the women's javelin. Odegard unleashed a new personal-best throw of 45.96 meters (150 feet, 9 inches) to win the meet in Dickinson. That beat her previous personal best by more than 8 feet and currently ranks her second in the entire NAIA. She is just 6 inches behind the top throw in the NAIA.
 
Both Peraza and Odegard will compete at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships on May 24-26 in Marion, Ind.
 
Valley City State's men and women both finished sixth out of eight teams at the Blue Hawk Games. The top eight finishers in each event scored team points. VCSU's men racked up 56 points while the Viking women had 26 points.
 
Noah Rolfe and Clay Kummer both had a pair of second-place finishes for the Viking men. Rolfe ran season-best times in both the 800 meters (2:01.25) and 1500 meters (4:15.61) and placed second in both events. Kummer placed second in both hurdle events, clocking a time of 16.57 seconds in the 110 hurdles and a season-best time of 55.73 seconds in the 400 hurdles.
 
On the women's side, Taylor Sargent placed third in the 100 hurdles with her time of 15.43. Misa Miyashiro shaved more than 5 seconds off her previous personal-best in the 800 meters as she placed 4^th in 2:35.01.
 
Up next: Weather permitting, Valley City State is scheduled to compete this weekend at a meet in Bismarck.
 
Blue Hawk Games
Sunday, April 16 – Dickinson, N.D.
VCSU Men – Top 8 Results
800 Meters: 2. Noah Rolfe, 2:01.25; 6. Brackin Awender, 2:09.80; 7. Brady Femling, 2:12.67
1500 Meters: 2. Noah Rolfe, 4:15.61
110 Hurdles: 2. Clay Kummer, 16.57
400 Hurdles: 2. Clay Kummer, 55.73
High Jump: 1. Jaiden Peraza, 2.05 meters (6-8.75)
Long Jump: 3. Jaiden Peraza, 6.63 meters (21-9)
Triple Jump: 6. Jalen Strickland, 11.49 meters (37-8.5)
 
VCSU Women – Top 8 Results
800 Meters: 4. Misa Miyashiro, 2:35.01
100 Hurdles: 3. Taylor Sargent, 15.43
400 Hurdles: 7. Mathea Jablonsky, 1:13.74
Shot Put: 8. Kendra Odegard, 11.08 meters (36-4.25)
Discus: 8. Emma Bastian, 32.60 meters (106-11)
Hammer Throw: 8. Jade Azure, 42.21 meters (138-6)
Javelin: 1. Kendra Odegard, 45.96 meters (150-9)