The Hillsdale College women's track and field team used home field advantage profitably in the hammer throw on Wednesday, as the 2024 G-MAC Outdoor Championships kicked off with first-day competition at Hayden Park.

Throwing in their home cage, the Chargers had three of the top eight places in the event to help get the Chargers off to a strong start. Senior Katie Weldy had her best-ever finish in a G-MAC Championships event, taking third and getting on the podium with a best mark of 53.47 meters, while teammate Juliet Bernard was close behind in fifth with a mark of 52.29 meters in an event that included as many as six athletes who are likely to compete at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships in May. Junior Katie Sayles also had a strong showing, placing eighth in a tough field with a mark of 51.53 meters.

In Hillsdale's other action on Wednesday, junior Neva Polo sits in second after four events in the women's heptathlon. Polo, who placed second in the G-MAC in the heptathlon in 2023 and won the indoor pentathlon title in March, placed in the top three in all four events, winning the 200m dash in 26.31 and placing second in the 100 hurdles (15.37) and the shot put (11.68 meters) as well. She'll look to chase down leader Kara Fields of Ashland in the final three events on Friday, the long jump, javelin and 800m run.

Entering the second day of competition on Thursday, Hillsdale currently sits in third behind Findlay and Ashland with 11 points, and will get back in action tomorrow at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the multis, and running and field events to follow at 2 p.m.

Photo by Reva Ludwig