Women’s team climbs in national ranks

Records continue to fall as the Chadron State Track and Field team continues to dominate this indoor season. The Eagles broke four indoor school records this weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Meet in Lincoln.

Three records the Eagles rewrote were on the women’s side. Chadron native Nicky Banzhaf, junior, broke the 5,000-meter record in 17 minutes, 32.91 seconds. The previous record was 18:18.49, set by former Eagle Jayme Nunes in 2014. Her time is 25 seconds faster than the CSC 5,000-outdoor record Banzhaf set in spring 2015. Banzhaf placed sixth among 18 runners.

Rebecca Volf, senior of Wood River, also shared the spotlight breaking the 3,000 record that was set eight years ago by former Eagle Stacy Girard. Volf’s time of 10:27.25 is 19 seconds faster than her previous career-best. Alyse Henry, freshman of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was not far behind running 10:28.16, also a school record. Henry’s time is 30 seconds faster than her only other collegiate time in the 3,000.

The women continued to roll, as the 4×400 relay team broke the school record by more than two seconds, running 3:49.80. The team consisted of Shelby Bozner, senior of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Nikki Glasson, senior of Wheatland, Wyoming; Kelsy Wood, junior of Hemingford; and Tiffany Thomas, senior of Kingston, Jamaica. Their time currently ranks 11th nationally in D-II.

The fourth record for CSC came on the men’s side by Zerek Jones, who lowered his time in the 800 by over one second running 1:52.50. Jones broke the school indoor record in the 800, Jan. 29 at CSC’s home meet, running 1:53.73. Jones home meet time, after conversion, dropped to 1:50.93 due to the size of CSC’s track and altitude. He currently sits ninth in D-II.

“They’re (men & women) looking good this whole indoor season,” Head Track and Field Coach Brad Gamble said. “Hopefully we can carry this momentum going into the conference championships in a few weeks.”

On the men’s side at Lincoln, Dylan Stansbury, junior of Crawford, ran a personal best in 5,000 with a time of 14:57.65. His time now ranks him second on the Eagles’ all-time 5,000 list indoors.

Several Eagles also competed at Doane College, Crete, this weekend with nearly every entry placing in the top 10. Lane Higgins, sophomore of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was the lone winner at Doane in the 400 with a time 50.57.

According to the NCAA D-II Indoor National Rankings from U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, CSC’s men’s team now sits No. 19 and the women at No. 21. The men fell five spots from 14, while the women moved up three spots from 24.

The Eagles will be in action again this weekend at the South Dakota State University Indoor Classic in Brookings, South Dakota.