Michigan State University
Florida Relays
Spartan Track & Field Closes Out Florida Relays
4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
GAINESVILLE, Florida - Sophomore Ellen DiPietro paced Michigan State track & field with a third-place leap in the high jump, as sophomore Katelyn Daniels broke the program record in the shot put on the final day of the Pepsi Florida Relays at the Percy Beard Track, located inside James G. Pressly Stadium, on Saturday, April 2.
"It was nice and a little bit relieving to see Ellen jump well," said assistant coach Ceith Creekmur. "It was nice to have her jumping like that again after having some no heights. This was the first step to climbing back up on the horse. It was a good start."
DiPietro, competing in her first meet since the NCAA Indoor Championships, cleared 1.73 meters on her third and final attempt. She only needed one attempt at the 1.68-meter opening height.
Daniels came off her record-breaking performance in the discus on Friday night with an eighth-place finish in the women's shot put. Daniel's progressively got better through the opening round, recording a 16.01-meter mark on her third attempt, breaking the school record of 15.86 meters set back in 1984.
"The throws took the cake for us," Creekmur said. "They did a phenomenal job just about everywhere. People were qualifying and breaking records."
Junior Vinny Gjokaj turned in an eighth-place effort in the shot put. After three-consecutive fouls, Gjokaj heaved the shot 16.56 meters for his long of the day. Two of his efforts landed past the 16-meter mark. Sophomore Riley Norman finished in ninth with a tally of 16.38 meters. Three of Norman's heaves were north of 16 meters.
In the pole vault, the Spartans notched a pair of top-15 performances. Senior Jaime Salisbury finished in a tie for seventh, clearing 5.00 meters. Sophomore Noah Gary made quick work of the opening 4.85-meter opening height before being knocked out at 5.00 meters to tie for 14th.
"There were some tough conditions today," said Creekmur. "They had to shut down the event and delay the start, but that is what you deal with in that event. They (Jaime Salisbury and Noah Gary) did well for an opener. It is about being mentally focused on the task."
Freshman Cody Stemple just missed a top-15 finish in the men's high jump, clearing 2.01 meters on his third and final attempt at the height for 16th.
MSU's weekend concluded in the 4x200-meter relay. The women's team of freshman Taylor Hopp, sophomore Cierra Pryor, freshman Autumn Robinson and senior Janae Hill combined for a time of 1:38.95 to take 18th. Sophomore Antonio Clark, senior David Washington, sophomore Alex Waiter and freshman Brady Bastien raced to a 21st-place finish in the men's 4x200 relay with a 1:27.68.
Pryor, freshman Asya Reynolds, Hopp and Hill clocked a 46.16 in the 4x100-meter relay earlier in the day. The Spartans second team in the event, comprised of Robinson, freshman Denise Spann, freshman Taylor Mullins and freshman Maya Roberts, turned in a 48.09.
"Everyone has some growth to do," said Creekmur. "It'll take more reps to get the timing down, but we are young and growing."
Michigan State returns to the track from April 8-9 at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing.
Players Mentioned
