MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State freshmen excelled at the Maverick Invitational Indoor Track and Field meet Friday at Myers Field House. The No. 1 ranked Mavericks also finished first as a team in their final tune-up ahead of the NSIC Indoor Championships with 333 points.
 
Southwest Minnesota State (90.5), Gustavus Adolphus (88), St. Scholastica (26), Wisconsin-Superior (18), Bethany Lutheran (16.5) and Saint Mary's (4) also competed.
 
Freshman Ghada Hamdani set a meet record with her first-place triple jump at 12.55m (41' 2.25"). Her mark was sixth best in Division II this winter.
 
"We believe our team is peaking at the right time heading into championship season," said head coach Mike Turgeon. "Freshman Ghada Hamdani improved her personal best and her three teammates all ranked inside the top-8 in the country. Coach Sebera has his triple jump group dialed in. We are looking forward to hosting the conference championships next week and believe our women are in strong position to repeat as indoor champions."
 
Freshman Esaba Okwaramoi won the 60-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 8.64 (18^th in Division II this season). Sophomore Miranda Lauvstad followed in second at 8.95.
 
Junior Antianna Walsh won the 60 meter dash with a personal best time of 7.74 while sophomore Kaia Martz won the 400 meters with a time of 59.65 over teammates Brianna Shroyer and Amaiya Barnes.
 
In the 200 meter dash, freshman Le'Nehja Norwood won for the Mavericks with a personal record 25.29.
 
Addison Peed and Makayla Bishop took the top positions in the 1000 meters. Peed's time of 3:04.29 was 19^th best in Division II this season. Bishop set a personal best at 3:06.06 for 29^th in Division II.
 
Allison Zigler ran the 3000 meters in 11:04.75, a personal record for the junior.
 
Gustavus junior Megan Geraets marked 5.65m (18' 6.50") for the ninth-best long jump in Division III to date. MSU's Molly Kahl placed second at 5.57m (18' 3.25") for 71^st in Division II.
 
Women's weight throw was headlined by freshman Lauren Bird (17.13m, 56' 2.5"), whose personal record landed 42^nd in Division II. The Mavericks seized each of the top three in high jump, with Lillian Washington clearing 1.68m (5' 6") for first place (37^th in Division II).
 
Senior Madeline Fretag took first place in shot put at 13.75m (45' 1.5").
 
Minnesota State hosts the NSIC Indoor Championships at Myers Field House February 23-24.