Women’s track posts personal, season bests in strong showing at Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational

The pole vault bar was set to a formidable height of 14 feet. Sophomore Tori Pena and senior Katy Viuf settled in to compete against each other in the ensuing jump off.

In a burst of speed and strength, Viuf, who was making her outdoor season debut in the pole vault, cleared the bar in her first attempt. Pena could not do the same and just missed the clearance, handing Viuf her first event win of the season.

This scene from the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational at Drake Stadium over the weekend was one of the many dramatic moments in the three-day span.

With a number of athletes posting personal and season bests in multiple events, coach Jeanette Bolden was pleased with her teams progress this early in the season.

“Today was a day of getting everyone back into competition. … We’re starting to round ourselves into shape. We’re not there yet, but we’re working towards it and around the board everyone is doing well,” Bolden said.

Showing no signs of rust in her first outdoor competition of the season, sophomore Ryann Krais led the field in the heptathlon after the first day of the meet.

The sophomore proved her overall ability by finishing near the top in multiple events. She placed third in the 100 meter hurdles (14.51), tied for second in the high jump and ran a season-best time of 25.96 in the 200m, placing fourth. Krais rounded out her performance with a fourth-place shot put finish, throwing 35-3.75.

While there were still events to finish in the heptathlon on Friday, Krais was pulled from the competition. Bolden made it clear that Krais did not have an injury and said it was never her intention to have the sophomore compete on the second day.

Junior Lindsay Rowe had a big weekend after earning two wins in the 100m hurdles. Her first time posted in Friday’s race was a season best (13.53) until she one-upped herself and posted a time of 13.51 on Saturday for her second win.