News

Norton gains national qualifying mark in discus

May 13, 2012

Alyssa Norton of Rushville sailed the discus 159 feet, 8 inches, some 23 inches farther than her previous best, to rank among the top 12 in the nation in the event after her performance in Kansas this weekend. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The Chadron State College track and field team appears to have added a national qualifier while participating in “last chance” meets at Concordia University in Seward and Emporia State University in Kansas this weekend.

Alyssa Norton of Rushville sailed the discus 159 feet, 8 inches, some 23 inches farther than her previous best, and now ranks among the top 12 in the nation in the event. Approximately 16 athletes are accepted in each event for the national meet.

Her winning mark at Concordia is a school record. She has owned the CSC record since she threw the discus 156-5 at last year’s Concordia Meet. Earlier this season, she had improved the record to 157-9.

Norton also improved her career-best mark in the shot put at both the Concordia and Emporia State last chance meets over the weekend with identical throws of 45-2 ½. Her previous best was 43-7 ¾ that she hit last year.

Another CSC athlete also improved upon his school record at Emporia. Sophomore Steven Richendifer of Sterling, Colo., added a half inch to his previous best by clearing 15-5 ½ Saturday night.

Other highlights for the Eagles over the weekend included a first in the men’s 100 meters by Dean Francis with a time of 10.61 seconds at Concordia.

CSC had three event winners at Emporia. They are Ashley Riesen in the 1500 meters, Cody Hunt in the shot put and Lincoln Proud in the 400-meter hurdles.

During the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships earlier in the week, Francis won both the 100 and 200 meters. The Eagles other conference champions were Proud in the 400 hurdles, Hunt in the shot put and Richendifer in the pole vault.

Hunt in the shot put, Norton in the discus and Jazmyn Webster in the women’s high jump are expected to be the Eagles’ national meet qualifiers. Hunt ranks third and Webster fifth in their events on the latest national lists.    

CSC results at Concordia

Women’s Events

Shot put—7, Alyssa Norton, 45-2 ¼.

Discus—1, Alyssa Norton, 159-8 (school record)

Pole vault—5, Kaelie Jelden, 11- ¼.

Men’s Events

100—1, Dean Francis, 10.61.

Discus—4, Cody Hunt, 159-8.

Pole vault—6, Steven Richendifer, 14-6.

CSC results at Emporia State:

Women’s Events

1500—1, Ashley Riesen, 4:51.24.

Shot put—5, Alyssa Norton, 45-2 ¼.

Discus—3, Alyssa Norton, 141-1.

Men’s Events

400 hurdles—1, Lincoln Proud, 53.65; 6, Gavan Archibald, 55.52.

Shot put—1, Cody Hunt, 59-8 ½.

Pole vault—4, Steven Richendifer, 15-5 ½ (school record)

—CSC Sports Information