The ISU women’s track team created a little magic of their own at the Walt Disney World Invitational. A school record and victory in the shuttle hurdle relay highlighted a very strong early outdoor season showing by the Cyclones as three athletes qualified for the NCAA regional meet.

The shuttle hurdle relay consisting of Rebecca Williams, Sara Boisen, Megan Nielsen and anchored by freshman Jenna Caffrey dominated their race with the closest team seven seconds behind in second. The Cyclones ran a time of 58.16 seconds to put their name in the record books bettering the old time of 58.50 seconds.

“Shuttle hurdle as always been one of my favorite events,” Caffrey said. “Its exciting to run it when we can and teaming with the other three.”

Along with the shuttle hurdle relay, Iowa State received a strong performance from Priya Hoze, who leapt to a second place finish in the long jump on Friday and then returned on Saturday to place fourth in the triple jump. Hoze’s effort in the triple jump qualified her for the NCAA regional.

Williams returned from the shuttle hurdle victory to finish second in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 13.31 seconds, tying her school record and also qualifying her for Regionals.

Jenny Mockler also qualified for Regionals by placing third in the 800-meter run in a time of 2 minutes and 9.02 seconds. Boisen also placed for the Cyclones, taking third in the 400m hurdle with a time of 1 minute and 0.09 seconds.

“We had a very good opening meet,” said coach Dick Lee. “Our kids did a great job of making a transition to running outdoors.”

The transition from running indoors to outdoors is not the only change the Cyclones face with upcoming outdoor meets. The team must get accustomed to life on the road and in the air as Iowa State will host no home meets during the outdoor season – a large change from the indoor season where the majority of the meets were at home.

“It’s a whole new thing getting used to the travel schedules, hotels and the different kinds of food,” said sprint and hurdles coach Scott Roberts. “We are living with each other day and night on the road.”

All that time on the road can make for some long days and nights, but can also improve the opportunity for the team to grow and bond together.

“It’s really a great experience. I think that’s when the freshman start to feel like they’re a part of the mix,” Roberts said. “I think we have a lot to look forward to.”