SPEARFISH, S.D. – It was a good day for Chadron State College's female throwers at the Myrle Hanson Open Indoor Track and Field Meet at Black Hills State in Spearfish on Saturday.

Sophomore Shelby Ekwall won the shot put for the fifth time this season and her heave of 45-3 ¾ was more than a foot farther than her previous best.  

Two more Eagles also had season-best marks in the shot. They are Ashlyn Tapio, who placed second with a throw of 44-0 ¼, and freshman Kristi Jordan, who was a close third at 43-10. Both marks are season bests by more than two feet.

Improvements also occurred in the women's weight throw. Sydney Alles added about 10 inches to her previous best by hitting 50-4 ¾ and Tapio's mark of 48-6 was her longest by six inches. They placed second and fourth in the event.

Besides Ekwall in the shot, the Eagles had three more event winners.  Wongel Molla won the 60 meter dash in 8.02 seconds, Paige Kirkmeier was first in the 400 in 1:01.15 and Kevin Day won the men's 200 dash in 23.04.

The meet provided an opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Indoor Championships that will be Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28 at Western State at Gunnison, Colo.

CSC Coach Jake Gruver chose to not enter most of his sprinters and jumpers who appear to have qualified by having marks that are among the top 18 in their events, but commended the Eagles who did compete Saturday for their efforts.

The list of qualifiers is expected to be released Monday afternoon.  

CSC's top six placers in the Myrle Hanson meet follow: 
Men's Events
                60 dash—4, Kevin Day, 7.08; 6, Sutton Pohlman, 7.15.
                200—1, Kevin Day, 23.04; 3, Emmanuel Wani, 23.35; 5, Kaden Perez, 23.37; 6, Hunter Lund, 23.47.
                400—3, Hunter Lund, 51.89; 4, Kaden Perez, 51.92.
                Mile—5, Blaine Johnson, 4:32.84.
                60 hurdles—3, Kelby Stayley, 9.92.
                Shot put—2, Casey Miller, 48-8 ¾; 4, Quade Jordan, 47-5 ¼; 6, Caleb Christiansen, 45-0 ¼. 
                Weight throw—4, Caleb Christiansen, 50-10 ¾; 5, Quade Jordan, 50-10.
                Triple jump—3, Malachi Swallow, 43-3 ½. 
                Pole vault—6, Ethan Norris, 13-11 ¾. 
Women's Events
                60 dash—1, Wongel Molla, 8.02; 3, Laynie Goertz, 8.22; 4, Hannah Rathmann, 8.28; 6, Mataya Ward, 8.52.
                200—5, Paige Kehmeier, 27.16; 6, Laynie Goertz, 27,18.
                400—1, Paige Kehrmeier, 1:01.15; 3, Jayda Rahmig, 1:04.63.
                800—6, Zelma Rudd, 2:30.45.
                Mile—4, Lydia Peters, 5:30.14; 5, Kyndall Carnahan, 5:30.70.
                60 hurdles—6, Shelbi Hazlett, 10.80.
                Shot put—1, Shelby Ekwall, 45-3 ¾; 2, Ashlyn Tapio, 44-0 ¼; 3, Kristie Jordan, 43-10; 6, Kailey Fobare, 37-7 ¾.
                Weight throw—2, Sydney Alles, 50-4 ¾; 4, Ashlyn Tapio, 48-6; 5, Selby Ekwall, 43-10 ¾; 6, Kristie Jordan, 42-3 ½.
                High jump—4-5 tie, Kailey Klein and Cordealia Williams, 4-9 
                Pole vault—3, Madison Clause, 10-6; 5, Cassie Wulff, 9-0 ¼.