NAMPA, Idaho. – The Nevada track and field team had a strong opening day of the indoor season and Ed Jacoby Invitational today, with sophomore
Nicola Ader setting two personal records in the pentathlon before bowing out and not finishing the 800 meter. The Wolf Pack distance medley relay team topped its competition as well, with a time of 12:27.32.
"Nicola had some good performances in the hurdles and high jumps today with both being indoor personal records," said coach
Scott Williamson, who oversees the multis. "She executed our competition plan well and put herself in a position to have a great indoor season and defend her Mountain West Conference pentathlon title. We are looking forward to some quality training over the next few weeks and competing at Colorado."
The afternoon started with a bang, as Ader blew through her 60m hurdles heat, clocking a personal record time of 8.86 seconds. The time was just .08 off of the 10th best time in Nevada history, and earned her 939 points in the pentathlon to take the early lead.
The native of Affolterbach, Germany followed it up with a second personal record on the day, this time in the high jump. Ader topped the event with a 5' 9.25" (1.76 m) leap, moving her out of a four-way tie into fifth all time at Nevada.
Ader followed up her record-breaking performances with a 9.68 m (31' 9.25") toss in the shot put, and a 17' 2.75" (5.25m) performance in the long jump. The scores put her at 3,004 points for the pentathlon.
Ader would start the final leg of the pentathlon, the 800 m race, before stepping off the track so as to be better rested and prepared for tomorrow's competition and the upcoming Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships.
The Wolf Pack's distance medley relay team took home the top time of 12:27.32 as well. The squad consisted of freshmen
Erika Robtoy,
Shelby Garrison and
Mikayla Shults, all of whom were competing in their first collegiate indoor meet. Running the last leg of the race was senior
Zanae Jones.
"They competed tough and got the win," said
Kirk Elias, who oversees the distance and middistance athletes. "There were some mistakes which only means they can improve. Lots more good coming from this group of athletes."
Three of Nevada's throwers were in action as well, with
Grace Wills,
Emma Dern and
Tina Lao all competing in the weight throw. Wills, a freshman competing in her first collegiate meet, took 16th in the 34-person field with a score of 43' 10.5" (13.37 m). Sophomore
Emma Dern came in at 26th after a score of 36' 11.75" (11.27 m), and in her first competitive weight throw redshirt sophomore
Tina Lao had a throw of 32' 11" (10.03 m) to land in 32nd place.
Nevada will be back in action tomorrow morning for the last day of the Ed Jacoby Invitational, with the 60 meter hurdles, high jump and weight throw beginning at 8:00 am pacific.
