Lopes flex in rust buster at Axe 'Em Invitational

Friday, January 13

Flagstaff, Ariz.

Grand Canyon

NAU Axe ‘Em Open

1/13/2023 11:45:00 PM | Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Christie-Galloway breaks 60-meter hurdles mark for 2nd straight meet

By: Nathan Peters

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Grand Canyon track and field completed its first full team meet Friday at Northern Arizona where the Lopes flexed their potential.

"Overall, I am very pleased with our performances at NAU," GCU head coach Tom Flood said. "We definitely busted some rust off in our first meet."

The Lopes had a healthy balancing attack of veterans and freshmen showing they can take care of business.

"We again were led by Keira Christie-Galloway with another school record performance in the 60-meter hurdles," Flood said.

Christie-Galloway won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.33 seconds. The graduate transfer from Arizona State previously broke the Grand Canyon record at Clemson in December with a time of 8.39.

"We also had WAC-leading performances from Jorden Okyere in the weight throw with the second-best mark in school history of 20.21 meters, Brooke Weimer in the long jump at 5.89 meters and Therese Olshanski with an altitude-adjusted time of 5:01.66 in the mile," Flood said.

Okyere finished first with the weight throw while Weimer claimed second in the long jump and Olshanski took second in the mile.

"Additionally, I thought both Samaria McDonald, in the weight throw and shot put, and Katie Petsch, in the 60- and 200-meter dashes, had very nice doubles today," Flood said.

The Lopes continued success comes from athletes like Petsch and McDonald who continue to preform at high levels in multiple events.

"It was also nice to see some of our freshman guys have good early-season times," Flood said. "Jarron Stevens with a runner-up finish in the 600 meters, Jacob Holguin, Conner Kittleson and Calvin Absten in the sprints and also Ben Stratman in the 400-meter dash."

Stevens, Holguin, and Kittleson are Arizona natives while Absten comes from Washington and Stratman from South Dakota.

"We will get back to work again on Monday and look to improve even more next week with split squads in both Albuquerque and back in Flagstaff," Flood said.

Full results from the Axe 'Em Invitational can be found here.