VCSU's Kendra Odegard and Jaiden Peraza both qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships during the Dr. Tom Johnson Open this weekend.
 
Odegard unleashed the top javelin throw in the enter NAIA this season as she won the women's event with a mark of 45.03 meters. That hits the NAIA "A" Standard and automatically qualifies her for the national meet May 22-24 in Marion, Ind. Odegard currently leads the entire NAIA by 9 feet with her top throw.
 
Peraza earned his spot at nationals in the men's high jump, clearing 2.02 meters to win the event Saturday in Bismarck. That hit the NAIA "B" Standard and qualifies Peraza for the national meet in May. Peraza is coming off an Indoor All-American honor in high jump as he placed 4^th at the NAIA Indoor Championships earlier this season.
 
Odegard's and Peraza's performances highlighted VCSU's weekend at the Dr. Tom Johnson Open, hosted by the University of Mary. VCSU's throwers did the hammer and javelin on Friday in Valley City, and then the remainder of the meet was held Saturday in Bismarck.
 
VCSU athletes combined to win seven events at the meet, including three by the men and four by the women. The Viking women racked up 130 team points and placed second out of five teams. The Viking men scored 78 points and placed fourth.

Complete Results
 
Odegard placed Top 8 in all four throwing events and scored 19 team points for the Vikings. Along with Odegard's win in the javelin, Jasmine Barnes won the 1500 for VCSU (5:07.55) and Emma Muggli won the 400 hurdles (1:11.63). VCSU's 4x100 relay team of Olivia Backus, Shanti Adams, Joran Jundt and Lily Baldwin also took first place.
 
On the men's side, Peraza won the high jump and Cameron Champagnie won the long jump with a mark of 6.48 meters. The VCSU 4x100 relay also picked up a win and included Aaron Cutshall, Mohammed Dukuly, Cameron Champagnie and Omarion Brown.
 
Up next: Valley City State is scheduled to compete next weekend at potential meets in both Jamestown and Dickinson.
 
Dr. Tom Johnson Open
April 5-6 | Hosted by University of Mary
Hammer & Javelin held April 5 in Valley City
Remaining events held April 6 in Bismarck.
 
VCSU Top 8 Finishers
VCSU Men
78 Points – 4^th out of 4 Teams
800 Meters: 6. Mason Brehmer, 2:08.95; 7. Brackin Awender, 2:11.18
4x100 Relay: 1. VCSU, 45.62 (Cutshall, Dukuly, Champagnie, Brown)
High Jump: 1. Jaiden Peraza, 2.02 meters (NAIA "B" Standard)
Long Jump: 1. Cameron Champagnie, 6.48 meters; 3. Aaron Cutshall, 6.36 meters; 5. Jared Kunze, 5.68 meters
Triple Jump: 2. Cameron Champagnie, 13.19 meters; 3. Aaron Cutshall, 12.30 meters
Shot put: 7. Zac Kuznia, 13.90 meters; 8. Jagger Dickman, 13.12 meters
Discus: 7. Jagger Dickman, 40.69 meters
Hammer Throw: 6. Cody Frounfelter, 43.94 meters
Javelin: 4. Garrett Ward, 41.73 meters; 6. Arie Bratrud, 36.58 meters; 7. Cody Frounfelter, 34.15 meters; 8. Andrew Winczewski, 32.70 meters
 
VCSU Women
130 points – 2^nd out of 5 teams
100 meters: 8. Lily Baldwin, 12.97
200 meters: 8. Lily Baldwin, 26.44
800 meters: 3. Jasmin Barnes, 2:34.02
1500 meters: 1. Jasmine Barnes, 5:07.55; 4. Karly Just, 5:17.03
100 hurdles: 2. Karina Olson, 14.86; 5. Emma Muggli, 16.40
400 hurdles: 1. Emma Muggli, 1:11.63; 2. Mathea Jablonsky, 1:18.73
4x100 relay: 1. VCSU, 55.09 (Backus, Adams, Jundt, Baldwin)
High jump: 4. Olivia Backus, 1.50 meters; Delaney Cotton, 1.35 meters; 6. Klaire Cotton, 1.25 meters
Long jump: 4. Ellie Powell, 4.68 meters
Triple jump: 3. Morgan Haerer, 9.46 meters; 4. Joran Jundt, 9.02 meters; 5. Ellie Powell, 8.90 meters
Shot put: 4. Kendra Odegard, 11.85 meters; 5. Sadie Hansen, 11.79 meters; 7. Emma Bastian, 11.53 meters; 8. Jade Azure, 11.49 meters
Discus: 5. Jade Azure, 39.29 meters; 7. Kendra Odegard, 36.92 meters
Hammer Throw: 7. Kendra Odegard, 39.19 meters
Javelin: 1. Kendra Odegard, 45.03 meters (NAIA "A" Standard); 4. Sadie Hansen, 36.77 meters