The ISU women’s track and field has reason to be excited about what the remainder of the season has in store after posting a long list of strong performances at the Jim Duncan Invitational on Friday and Saturday. 

ISU volunteer assistant coach Matt Valeriani said the performances were exactly what the team was looking for. 

3,000-meter steeplechase

Freshman Kelly Naumann led a 1-2-3 finish for the Cyclones in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Jim Duncan Invitational on Friday. Redshirt senior Andrea Toppin and Grace Gibbons finished in second and third, respectively. 

“[Naumann and Gibbon’s performances] were both really what we were looking for,” Valeriani said. “Kelly definitely has a bright future in the event. She was on her way to a great time and then slipped over the last water barrier, but she’s definitely going to help us later in the season in that event.”

Toppin’s appearance in the steeplechase was her first in two years after spending the previous outdoor season overcoming a stress fracture injury.

“I’m just trying to get my mojo back because I haven’t steepled for two years,” Toppin said. “It’s really exciting to partake in this event again. My No. 1 focus is the steeplechase — being consistent, being strong and just trusting in myself.”

Discuss

Redshirt senior thrower Christina Hillman competed in the discuss for the second consecutive weekend. 

Despite it not being her premier event, Hillman was still able to finish second with a mark of 162 feet. 

1,500-meter run

Kate DeSimone led a 1-2 finish for the Cyclones in the 1,500-meter run. Bethanie Brown, who hadn’t competed in an outdoor event since the 2014 outdoor season but was a 2013 cross-country All-American for Iowa State, finished second in 4:37.56. 

“[DeSimone] led from the gun all the way to the tape, ran a pretty good opening mark of [4:34.15],” Valeriani said. 

400-meter dash

Senior Alyssa Gonzalez and freshman Jasmine Staebler finished back-to-back at the top of the leader board in the 400-meter dash.  Gonzalez finished in 55.77, while Staebler ran a 56.21. 

100-meter dash

Jhoanmy Luque competed in her second meet of the 2015 outdoor season, but not in her usual long jump event. Instead she took the title in the 100-meter dash, clocking a 12.39.

Freshman Lucy Schneekloth finished 10th in the event in 13.13

800-meter run

Freshman Erinn Stenman-Fahey led a 1-2-3-4 ISU charge in the 800-meter run.  

“Erinn Stenman-Fahey had a breakthrough that we’ve kind of been looking for a little while now and broke that 2:10 barrier at the collegiate level for the first time I believe, running a [2:08.98] with some wind,” Valeriani said. 

Evelyne Guay, Perez Roitich and Maddie Nagle completed the top-four sweep, respectively. 

Sophomore Jackie Feist finished in seventh, and junior Maryn Lowry placed ninth. 

400-meter hurdles

Competing in her second event of the day, Gonzalez placed third in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 1:02.31.

200-meter dash

Schneekloth concluded the running events for the Cyclones at the Jim Duncan Invitational, placing sixth in the 200-meter dash.