University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, January 24
Ames, Iowa
vs
Cyclone Open
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Apple's Record-Breaking Day Highlights Cyclone Open, Jack Johnson Classic
1/25/2025 5:08:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Men’s and women’s programs combine for 11 top-10 program marks
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Freshman Danika Apple broke the St. Thomas women's indoor records in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes as the men's and women's teams competed at the Cyclone Open in Ames, Iowa and Jack Johnson Classic in Minneapolis over the weekend.
Both teams combined to set 11 top-10 program marks, highlighted by Apple's event win in the 60m dash in 7.56 and second place finish in the 200m dash in 24.63. Apple broke the previous 60m dash record of 7.60 set by Mallory Burnham in 2014 and the 200m dash record of 24.72 set by Alexis Pratt last indoor season.
WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
Rebecca Randleman also led the way on the track, winning the 400m dash in 56.65 seconds, the second-best time in program history, while junior Olivia Keller finished third in 57.09 for the program's third fastest time.
Freshman Olivia Pauly posted a time of 9:54.21 in the 3000m run, finishing second behind program record holder Molly Desotell in 9:53.88, and ranking third all-time, while Ava Pankratz placed third at 10:00.61, the fifth-fastest time in program history.
At the Jack Johnson Classic, the women totaled seven personal records with four top-three finishes. Emily Baker recorded the team's lone win in the 3000m run in 10:39.40 while Cassie Gospodarek took third in the high jump at 1.55m.
Other notable performances included:
· Jackie Cole: Fifth in the long jump with a mark of 5.44m, tied for seventh in program history.
· Hannah Cornelius: Fourth in the 400m dash with a time of 57.62.
· Hailey Hindt: Seventh in the 400m dash (58.32) to move into ninth in program history.
· Molly Desotell: First in the 3000m run (9:53.88).
· The Tommie women totaled four event wins, including Katie Nollette's victory in the pole vault (3.52m).
MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
On the men's side, Will DiSessa won the triple jump with a mark of 14.15m, ranking 10th in program history at the Cyclone Open. Mitchell Piehl posted a time of 48.78 in the 400m dash, placing third and recording the fourth-best time in program history on an oversized track. Freshman Blake Burnstad finished seventh in the 800m run at 1:53.64, ranking eighth all-time on an oversized track.
The Tommie men secured one event win and three top-three finishes at the Cyclone Open, including Brendan Harter in the high jump (2.00m).
At the Jack Johnson Classic, the men finished with one event win by Ben Batalden in the 800m run with a time of 1:58.03. Ethan Starfield took second in the 800m run in 1:58.51.
QUOTABLES
Women's Head Coach Ashley Lucas following the record-breaking Cyclone Open and Jack Johnson Classic:
"This weekend was a great steppingstone for the women's program. I saw confidence in individuals continue to rise and great results because of that. It's always exciting to add to the Top 10 list and it was. Stellar weekend from Danika (Apple) breaking two school records.
"Across the board, we are in a heavy training block right now which had the team excited that they are performing the way they are on tired legs. We are looking forward to carrying this momentum to the weeks to come."
Men's Head Coach Pete Wareham's thoughts on the team's first of two indoor trips to Iowa State and second trip to Minnesota:
"We had some very good things happen for an early season meet. Will DiSessa had a very good triple jump performance, which was great to see. In addition, Mitchell Piehl continues to be very good every time he steps on the track. Isaac Nowak ran a very nice mile race, and Blake Burnstad had an outstanding 800 meter race. We are looking forward to continue to build up over these next couple weeks as we prepare for the Summit League Championships."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas prepares next for the Mark Schuck Open & Multi on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Men's and Women's Track & Field, follow along on Twitter at @TommieXCTF. Follow both programs on Instagram at @tommiewxctf and @tommiemtfxc
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Both teams combined to set 11 top-10 program marks, highlighted by Apple's event win in the 60m dash in 7.56 and second place finish in the 200m dash in 24.63. Apple broke the previous 60m dash record of 7.60 set by Mallory Burnham in 2014 and the 200m dash record of 24.72 set by Alexis Pratt last indoor season.
WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
Rebecca Randleman also led the way on the track, winning the 400m dash in 56.65 seconds, the second-best time in program history, while junior Olivia Keller finished third in 57.09 for the program's third fastest time.
Freshman Olivia Pauly posted a time of 9:54.21 in the 3000m run, finishing second behind program record holder Molly Desotell in 9:53.88, and ranking third all-time, while Ava Pankratz placed third at 10:00.61, the fifth-fastest time in program history.
At the Jack Johnson Classic, the women totaled seven personal records with four top-three finishes. Emily Baker recorded the team's lone win in the 3000m run in 10:39.40 while Cassie Gospodarek took third in the high jump at 1.55m.
Other notable performances included:
· Jackie Cole: Fifth in the long jump with a mark of 5.44m, tied for seventh in program history.
· Hannah Cornelius: Fourth in the 400m dash with a time of 57.62.
· Hailey Hindt: Seventh in the 400m dash (58.32) to move into ninth in program history.
· Molly Desotell: First in the 3000m run (9:53.88).
· The Tommie women totaled four event wins, including Katie Nollette's victory in the pole vault (3.52m).
MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
On the men's side, Will DiSessa won the triple jump with a mark of 14.15m, ranking 10th in program history at the Cyclone Open. Mitchell Piehl posted a time of 48.78 in the 400m dash, placing third and recording the fourth-best time in program history on an oversized track. Freshman Blake Burnstad finished seventh in the 800m run at 1:53.64, ranking eighth all-time on an oversized track.
The Tommie men secured one event win and three top-three finishes at the Cyclone Open, including Brendan Harter in the high jump (2.00m).
At the Jack Johnson Classic, the men finished with one event win by Ben Batalden in the 800m run with a time of 1:58.03. Ethan Starfield took second in the 800m run in 1:58.51.
QUOTABLES
Women's Head Coach Ashley Lucas following the record-breaking Cyclone Open and Jack Johnson Classic:
"This weekend was a great steppingstone for the women's program. I saw confidence in individuals continue to rise and great results because of that. It's always exciting to add to the Top 10 list and it was. Stellar weekend from Danika (Apple) breaking two school records.
"Across the board, we are in a heavy training block right now which had the team excited that they are performing the way they are on tired legs. We are looking forward to carrying this momentum to the weeks to come."
Men's Head Coach Pete Wareham's thoughts on the team's first of two indoor trips to Iowa State and second trip to Minnesota:
"We had some very good things happen for an early season meet. Will DiSessa had a very good triple jump performance, which was great to see. In addition, Mitchell Piehl continues to be very good every time he steps on the track. Isaac Nowak ran a very nice mile race, and Blake Burnstad had an outstanding 800 meter race. We are looking forward to continue to build up over these next couple weeks as we prepare for the Summit League Championships."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas prepares next for the Mark Schuck Open & Multi on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Men's and Women's Track & Field, follow along on Twitter at @TommieXCTF. Follow both programs on Instagram at @tommiewxctf and @tommiemtfxc
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
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