Graceland Throwers Lead at Grand View; Vandemark Competes at Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Graceland University women's outdoor track and field team delivered a strong performance Friday at the Grand View Viking Classic, highlighted by multiple podium finishes in the throws, before senior Kady Vandemark represented the Yellowjackets Saturday at the prestigious Drake Relays.
The Yellowjackets were led by Vandemark, who captured the hammer throw title with a mark of 52.77 meters (173-1), securing the top spot in a competitive field. The senior produced the winning mark on her fourth attempt at the meet.
Vandemark added a second podium finish in the shot put, placing third overall with a throw of 12.20 meters (40-0.5).
Graceland's throws unit continued to show depth as Kaydence Wynglarz contributed a seventh-place finish in the hammer (43.07m) and added a solid mark in the discus. Teammates Camryn Talcott (38.38m) and Olyvia Ohnemus (38.04m) also recorded competitive marks in the hammer, placing multiple Yellowjackets within the field's upper half.
Overall, the Grand View meet underscored the Yellowjackets' strength in the throwing events, particularly in the hammer, where Graceland athletes consistently produced marks within scoring range.
"We saw good rhythm in the circle and a lot of consistency across our series," said head coach Tom Shore. "Our throwers are executing their positions well, and that's translating into solid marks as we move closer to the conference meet."
On Saturday, Vandemark competed at the Drake Relays, one of the nation's premier track and field meets, as the lone Graceland representative. Her appearance at Drake comes as a result of a previously achieved qualifying mark earlier this season, reflecting her standing among elite competitors in the region.
The Drake Relays field featured top collegiate athletes across multiple divisions, presenting a high-caliber competitive environment. Vandemark now shifts her focus back to the postseason, where she enters as an NAIA "A" standard qualifier and the defending All-American after a fourth-place finish at the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Championships.
Graceland will next compete at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, scheduled for May 1-2 at 9 a.m. CDT at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the Yellowjackets prepare for national qualification opportunities.
For more information on Graceland outdoor track and field and all Yellowjacket athletics, visit GUjackets.com.