Wright State’s Shelby Nolan Sets New #HLTF Outdoor Record in Day 1 of 2021 Championships
#HLTF Day 1 Results
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – The 2021 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships began on the campus of Youngstown State on Friday. After the first day of competition, Wright State senior Shelby Nolan set the only conference record of the day in the women’s 10,000-meter. Youngstown State is currently on top of both leaderboards with 41 points on the men’s side and 35 points on the women’s side. The #HLTF Championship competition continues Saturday, May 8 at 9 a.m. with streaming on ESPN3.
2021 Alfreeda Goff Outdoor Athlete of the Year, Shelby Nolan, finished the women’s 10k in 34:42.60 to be crowned champion and set a new Horizon League record. The previous record was held by Emily Royston of Milwaukee with a 34:58.67 finish in 2019. Second was Oakland’s Rachel Kempf in 35:20.60, followed by Mikayla Fox (35:24.10) of Milwaukee who took third.
Sophomore Connor Goetz of Oakland was the men’s 10k champion, closing the race in a time of 30:09.77 to set a new facility record in the event. Next across the line was IUPUI’s Mitchell Gits in 30:22.25, while third was earned by Youngstown State’s Kenneth Easterling (30:33.80).
RMU senior Estelle Katende was the winner of the women’s discus with 48.04m, setting a new facility record in the process. Her teammate Yessie Valencia took second with a 47.98m finish. Third place was earned by Youngstown State’s Sammy Dyson (46.72m).
Freshmen took all three podium positions in the men’s discus, led by Romario Jackson who was crowned the champion with a 50.20-meter finish for Oakland. Youngstown State’s Zach Gray (48.82m) was the event runner-up while his teammate Brock Grundy (48.33m) took third.
Youngstown State took the first and second in the men’s javelin with sophomore Noah Drudy (60.83m) as the champion and freshman Noah Weese (57.50m) as the runner-up. Third was earned by Purdue Fort Wayne freshman Aaron Martin who threw 53.13m.
The Penguins also took the first and second in the women’s javelin with junior Olivia Jones as the women’s javelin winner, claiming the event with a throw of 43.80m. Her teammate, sophomore Cambrie Campbell, took second with 39.77m.
The decathlon is currently led by freshman Austin Wallace of Milwaukee with a score of 3,685. Purdue Fort Wayne’s Elijah Merida is currently in second with 3,132 points and Trevor Coenen (3,082 points) sits in third for the Panthers. The final five events of the decathlon will take place first thing Saturday morning with the 110 high hurdles.
Youngstown State freshman Emily Bee is currently the leader of the heptathlon with a score of 2,996 points. Her teammate, Olivia Jones (2,949 points), is currently the runner-up while only one-point back is Oakland’s Emily Schaub in third place with 2,948 points. Only three events of the heptathlon remain.
The top finisher in the men’s 1,500-meter preliminary was Brooks Long of IUPUI, crossing the line in 4:01.12. The women’s top finisher was Oakland freshman Maryam Sheena in a time 4:39.42. The championship section of the 1,500-meter will take place on Sunday.
The 2021 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships continue on Saturday, May 8 at 9 a.m. starting with the conclusion of the multi-events. Streaming of the running preliminaries will begin at 3:55 p.m. ET on ESPN3. Visit HorizonLeague.com for more information.
TEAM SCORES
WOMEN
1) Youngstown State - 35
2) Robert Morris - 24
3) Oakland - 17
4) Milwaukee -15
5) Wright State - 11
6) Northern Kentucky - 5
7) Purdue Fort Wayne - 4
8) Cleveland State - 3
8) Detroit Mercy - 3
10) IUPUI
10) UIC
MEN
1) Youngstown State - 41
2) Oakland - 25
3) Milwaukee - 22
4) IUPUI - 9
4) Purdue Fort Wayne - 9
6) Detroit Mercy - 7
7) UIC - 4
8) Northern Kentucky