Mustangs count three national qualifiers at indoor opener

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Mount Mercy opened the indoor track & field season with three national qualifiers at the Finals Week Invitational hosted by St. Ambrose on Saturday at the St. Ambrose Wellness and Rec Center.

Andrea Ertz hit the NAIA's automatic qualifying standard in the mile with the third-fastest time in school history (5:04.19). That was good for second place and puts her at No. 2 in the nation in the event.

Two throwers reached the NAIA's "B" qualifying standard. Bre Nail set a school record while winning the shot put with a distance of 43' 11-3/4" and Lauren Willson won the weight throw with the third-best toss in school history (52' 4-1/2"). Nail is currently third in the NAIA in the shot put while Willson is No. 8 in the weight throw.

Ceondae Adams was also a top performer for the Mustangs. She won the 200 meter dash with the second-fastest time in school history while her preliminary time in the 60 meter dash also ranks second all-time.

Other personal records by Mount Mercy athletes were Caleb Rutherford in the shot put (45' 8") and weight throw (47' 3-1/2"), Nail in the weight throw (43' 10-1/2"), Willson in the shot put (38' 10-1/4"), Jzonei Jones in the weight throw (40' 3-1/4"), and Faith Mendoza in the weight throw (38' 6").

Mount Mercy will be back in action next month at the Chelsea Henekenius Triangular on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Waverly.