Wells-Johnson sets school hurdle record to lead Wildcats at Saint Benedict

Results

For the second weekend in a row, Shakeela Wells-Johnson (St. Paul, Minn./Harding) proved her rookie season was just the beginning of her mark on the St. Catherine University track and field program. The sophomore set another school record to lead the Wildcats to a handful of solid performances Saturday afternoon at the College of Saint Benedict Quadrangular Meet at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Wells-Johnson took home a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a record-setting time of 9.26 that barely broke the previous record of 9.27 set by teammate Brittany Moore (Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) last year. Her time is also the second-fastest in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season. She also competed in the long jump for the first time and her jump of 4.72 meters (15-6) was good enough for sixth in the event.

Moore also had a solid day finishing third in the long jump with a mark of 4.82 meters (15-9.75) that was just a few inches from her personal record (PR). The junior was also third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.42 and was just off her PR in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.42.

The Wildcats also received two strong performances in the Distance Medley Relay as both placed in the St. Kate's top 10. The team of Courtney Kirkeide (Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River), Morgan Vlakancic (Pleasant Hill, Calif/College Park), Marie Morrier (Hudson, N.H./Academy of Science and Design) and Jenna McElroy (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) ran to a time of 13:25.09 that is now No. 6 all-time, while the other squad of Johannah Wyrick (Gilbert, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert), Ellie Cardinal (Burnsville, Minn./Eastview), Jenna Thompson (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) and Shannon Strickland (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) finished in 13:50.01 which is No. 10.

Strickland ran on the DMR squad and also had an individual top 10 performance at the University of St. Thomas Invitational Friday evening in the mile run. Her time of 5:32.27 was not only a 12-second PR, but is now the seventh-fastest time in St. Kate's history. McElroy also competed at UST in the 5,000-meter run and was just off her indoor PR clocking in at 19:40.71.

Other notable performances came first from Megan Pohlmann (Grey Eagle, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) who finished fourth in the weight throw with a PR mark of 11.11 meters (36-5.5), while Claire Vasilis (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) was fifth with a mark of 10.55 meters (34-7.5).

In sprints, Megan Thoemke (White Bear Lake, Minn./Mahtomedi) premiered in the 600-meter dash with a second-place finishing time of 1:48.93. In the mid-distance, Kirkeide had a PR in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:33.18. Rachel Hall (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Michelle Perri (Plymouth, Minn./Osseo) and Natalie Barclay (South Barrington, Ill./Christian Liberty Academy) all had PRs in the mile.

The Wildcats return to action next Saturday at the University of Minnesota Parents' Day Open. The meet is slated to begin at 10 a.m. in Minneapolis.

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Players Mentioned

Courtney Kirkeide: MD; Sophomore

Jenna McElroy: D; Senior

Brittany Moore: H; Junior

Megan Pohlmann: T; Sophomore

Shannon Strickland: D; Sophomore

Jenna Thompson: MD; Sophomore

Morgan Vlakancic: MD; Junior

Shakeela Wells-Johnson: H; Sophomore

Natalie Barclay: D; First-year

Ellie Cardinal: D; First-year

Players Mentioned

Courtney Kirkeide
: Sophomore
: MD

Jenna McElroy
: Senior
: D

Brittany Moore
: Junior
: H

Megan Pohlmann
: Sophomore
: T

Shannon Strickland
: Sophomore
: D

Jenna Thompson
: Sophomore
: MD

Morgan Vlakancic
: Junior
: MD

Shakeela Wells-Johnson
: Sophomore
: H

Natalie Barclay
: First-year
: D

Ellie Cardinal
: First-year
: D