Blue Devils Cap Final Day of VertKlasse Meeting

Saturday, April 4

High Point, N.C.

All Day

Duke University

Day Two at Vertklasse Meeting

Blue Devils Cap Final Day of VertKlasse Meeting

4/5/2015 2:47:00 AM | Track & Field

By: Duke Sports Information

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Duke track and field teams wrapped up another strong day of competition at the VertKlasse Meeting Saturday, as the Blue Devils racked up nine victories on the day.

On the track, the Duke 800m runners combined for five top-three performances. In the men's race, senior Nate McClafferty and freshmen Kyle Francis and Jordan Burton swept the top spots, placing first, second and third with times of 1:53.04, 1:53.55 and 1:53.84. On the women's side, sophomore Madeline Kopp won the race with a time of 2:11.05, while senior Lauren Hansson took third, clocking a time of 2:12.90.

Multi-event athlete Teddi Maslowski recorded a first and third-place performance on the track Saturday. The redshirt junior out of Burgettstown, Pa., was victorious in the women's 200m with a time of 24.14 after placing third in the women's 100m hurdles, crossing the line in 13.52.

Running in the participation competitions, senior Elizabeth Kerpon took first in the women's 400m, clocking a time of 56.14, while fellow senior Alexis Roper won the women's 200m with a 24.92 performance. Roper later returned to the track, finishing fifth in the women's 400m performance event with a time of 58.30.

Freshman Maddy Price made her collegiate debut in the 400m hurdles Saturday and added her name to the Duke record books. The Hillsborough, Calif., native crossed the finish line in 1:01.08, finishing first and notching the third-fastest time in school history. Price's performance was also an ACC automatic qualifying time.

Hansson, Price, Kopp and Kerpon teamed up later to win the women's 4x100, clocking a combined time of 45.91. The squad's performance also ranks as the second-fastest time in Duke history.

Rounding out the running events, freshman sprinter Brett Bofinger placed fourth in the men's 100m with a time of 10.81, while the men's 4x400 unit of sophomore Chaz Hawkins, senior Ian Rock, freshman Tanner Johnson and junior Robert Rohner teamed up to finish second with 3:17.46 showing.

In the field events, the women's pole vault duo of junior Megan Clark and freshman Madison Heath each recorded season-best vaults to place first and second, respectively. Clark vaulted 14-5.25 (4.40m) to best the meet record she set last spring, while Heath took runner-up honors with a clearance of 13-7.25 (4.15m). Heath's mark ranks No. 4 all-time in school history.

Graduate student Erica Brand notched the second win for the Blue Devils in the field events, taking first in the women's discus. Brand registered a season-best toss of 171-6 (52.27m) to place ahead of the competition.

Duke logged three more top-five finishes in throwing events Saturday, with season-best throws coming in each. Redshirt junior Stephen Boals finished second in the men's discus with a mark of 175-3 (53.43m), junior Michael Foley placed third in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 188-1 (57.32m), and senior Stephanie Skove took fifth in the women's hammer with a 168-5 (51.35m) performance to rank third all-time at Duke and earn her an automatic bid to the ACC Outdoor Championships.

In the men's high jump, freshmen Colt Sessions, who was competing unattached, and Andrew Pancoast each leapt a season-best 6-6.25 (1.99m) to finish third and fourth, respectively. Sophomore Karly Gregory, competing in the women's long jump, finished fourth after notching a mark of 18-7.00 (5.66m).

The Blue Devils will return to competition next weekend, hosting the Duke Invitational April 10-11. The meet will also serve as the unveiling of Morris William Track & Field Stadium.

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