Sixteen personal records were broken this weekend at the Bill Bergan Invitational at the Lied Recreational Center as the Iowa State women’s track and field teams earned a 2nd place finish against several Big 12 competitors. The ISU women finished runnerup to Big 12 rival Nebraska, who also won on the men’s side. 

Strong performances were turned in again from the women’s throwing squads behind Laishema Hampton, who threw a personal best of 60-10.75 to win the weight throw and earn a third place finish in the shot put. 

Sophomore Danielle Frere finished third in the weight throw ahead of junior Britta Christofferson, who also finished fourth in the shot put. Hayli Bozarth added to Christofferson and Frere’s personal bests with a throw of 52-07.5. 

“I thought we were going to have a good day, we had a great day,” said throwing coach Grant Wall. “It was like we are in third or fourth gear and we have two or three gears left to show. We’re not nearly where we’re going to be.”

The runners were in high gear on Saturday behind All-American distance runner Lisa Koll who sat out the 3,000 meter event this weekend in favor of the one mile run, where she set a personal best of 4:41.37 for the Cyclones. Sophomore Betsy Saina turned in a strong performance yet again, earning points for the Cyclones with her fourth place finish in the one mile run. 

Semehar Tesfaye turned in a strong run in the 3,000 meter run with a time of 9:37.87, a new personal best. Alphine Tuliamuk finished fifth in the 3,000 ahead of redshirt freshman Dani Stack, who also set a new personal record Saturday. 

Senior Erin Penticoff set a personal best with a second place finish in the 800 meter run, finishing behind North Tama’s own Sara Stoakes, now running for Kansas State. Senior Jenna Caffrey carried last weekend’s successes into the Bill Bergan Invitational and captured second place finishes in the 60 meter dash and hurdles. 

Caffrey’s time of 7.68 in the 60 meter dash eclipsed her previous personal best of 7.77 seconds. 

“I’m being consistent,” Caffrey said. “ Last meet I came out and ran a PR in the 60 hurdles; each meet I’m just looking to cut hundredths off so when we cut to conference I’ll be cutting tenths.” 

Caffrey’s effort last week in the 60 meter hurdles at the ISU Open was quick enough to earn her a provisional qualifying spot for the NCAA Championships.

Kianna Elahi and Donnise Powell continued the trend of personal bests for the Cyclones as they both set new PR’s in the 400 meter run. 

Sophomore Callan Jacobson earned a new personal best in the 200 meter dash, behind Lashawn Wright’s second place finish with a time of 25.07. 

Coach Corey Ihmels was happy with his team’s performance. 

“I thought we had some aggressiveness, it was good for our kids to have that this weekend,” Ihmels said. “I think we’re set up where we get better every week and the competition gets better every week too.” 

The ISU track teams continues its season next weekend at home again with the Cyclone Open. The meet will begin Friday at 3 p.m. and competition will conclude on Saturday.