Asuncion bringing consistency to track and field team

Justin Magill
WINONAN

If there were a dictionary for track and field, freshman Emily Asuncion would be under the word ‘consistency.’
Throughout the indoor season Asuncion has been a steady and solid performer in several events, racking up big points for the Winona State University track and field team.
An example is in the first meet of the season in Mankato. Asuncion took second in the triple-jump, third in the 60-meter hurdles, and eighth in the 60-meter dash.
Since then, Asuncion has steadily improved, capturing first-place honors in the 55-meter hurdles at Stevens Point with a time of 8.66 seconds, and has been in the top three in all hurdle events this season.
The reason for her success?
“Hard work,” Asuncion said. “I always try to give it my all in practice, which carries over to meets.”
At last weekend’s Warhawk Classic at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Asuncion took second place in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.51 seconds.
Jennifer Bradford took first-place honors in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 58.2 seconds.
Kale Johnson won the high jump at 5-01.75 and Rebecca Stier won shot put with a toss of 44-06.00.
The 4-by-400 relay team, which shattered the school record with a time of 4:00.11 on Feb. 9, took second place at 4:00.85. The time Bradford, Lisa Meyer, Kelly Milkent and Nicci Johnson broke was 3.61 seconds faster than the previous record.
WSU took fifth place overall at the six-team event with 74 points. UW-La Crosse won the meet, scoring 175 points.
The Warriors will travel across the Mississippi River to take on UW-La Crosse in a dual meet tomorrow.
UW-La Crosse is the alma mater of coach Mason Rebarchek, who earned two All-American honors as an Eagle. Throws coach Mike Turgeon is also a graduate of La Crosse and was a two-time national champion in this discus.