Friday, April 10
Des Moines, IA
2:00 PM
Creighton University
at
Jim Duncan Invitational
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Throwers Lead Track Teams at Jim Duncan Invitational
4/10/2026 7:56:00 PM | Men's Cross Country / Track, Women's Cross Country / Track
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Creighton's javelin throwers led the way for the Bluejay track teams at the Jim Duncan Invitational on Friday, April 10, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jackson Daniel's Bluejay debut was a success as the freshman from Wichita picked up a victory in the javelin with a throw of 58.63. That was good enough to edge teammate Jacob Ludwick, who qualified for the NCAA First Round last spring. Ludwick was the event runner-up with a toss of 56.10 meters. On the women's side, Sophia Valentine finished second in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 32.32 meters.
The highlights weren't limited to the javelin, as Natalee Gehred set a CU record in the 400 with a time of 1:00.51, which placed her 14th in the race. Also establishing a Bluejay record was the men's 4x400 relay team of Kyle Nelson, Logan Piper, Gabe Hamilton and Jake Ziebarth. That quartet circled Drake Stadium's famed blue oval four times in 3:20.00, which was good for seventh place.
"We saw some good things today, and for sure some places where our fitness and racing aren't quite aligned," said Creighton head coach Chris Gannon. "We had a number of PRs and when we look at performances from this week last year, we are in a better place. That's part of the process, just continuing to raise the floor. A few years ago this would have been a stellar day for us, now we know we are and can be better. We will sharpen up a bit and look forward to seeing the hard work we have put in."
The Bluejay men showed their strength in the 1,500, as Tommy Murray placed second in 3:56.36, Cole Haith was sixth in 3:59.47 and Oliver Annus took ninth in 3:59.68. Andrew Sauer led the Jays in the 5,000 with a time of 15:20.79 and Hamilton paced CU in the 400 hurdles with a time of 54.58.
The CU women flexed their muscle in the 5,000 as both Taylor Rorick (17:35.62) and Sarah Vaske (18:02.90) finished in the top six. Carly Manchester paced five Bluejay women in the 800, taking 15th in a time of 2:15.22. Sophia Redler was 17th in the 1,500 in 4:53.07. CU's 4x400 relay team of Manchester, Gehred, Reyna Heisserer and Alexis Huddin were seventh, clocking a time of 4:02.97.
Also leading CU on the men's side was Kyle Nelson (1:54.82) in the 800 and Dominic Ricci (10:45.08) in the steeplechase.
CU will send Anika Nettekoven and Jake Ziebarth to the Wake Forest Invitational next Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., and a few others head to the Big Red Classic in Lincoln on Friday.
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Jackson Daniel's Bluejay debut was a success as the freshman from Wichita picked up a victory in the javelin with a throw of 58.63. That was good enough to edge teammate Jacob Ludwick, who qualified for the NCAA First Round last spring. Ludwick was the event runner-up with a toss of 56.10 meters. On the women's side, Sophia Valentine finished second in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 32.32 meters.
The highlights weren't limited to the javelin, as Natalee Gehred set a CU record in the 400 with a time of 1:00.51, which placed her 14th in the race. Also establishing a Bluejay record was the men's 4x400 relay team of Kyle Nelson, Logan Piper, Gabe Hamilton and Jake Ziebarth. That quartet circled Drake Stadium's famed blue oval four times in 3:20.00, which was good for seventh place.
"We saw some good things today, and for sure some places where our fitness and racing aren't quite aligned," said Creighton head coach Chris Gannon. "We had a number of PRs and when we look at performances from this week last year, we are in a better place. That's part of the process, just continuing to raise the floor. A few years ago this would have been a stellar day for us, now we know we are and can be better. We will sharpen up a bit and look forward to seeing the hard work we have put in."
The Bluejay men showed their strength in the 1,500, as Tommy Murray placed second in 3:56.36, Cole Haith was sixth in 3:59.47 and Oliver Annus took ninth in 3:59.68. Andrew Sauer led the Jays in the 5,000 with a time of 15:20.79 and Hamilton paced CU in the 400 hurdles with a time of 54.58.
The CU women flexed their muscle in the 5,000 as both Taylor Rorick (17:35.62) and Sarah Vaske (18:02.90) finished in the top six. Carly Manchester paced five Bluejay women in the 800, taking 15th in a time of 2:15.22. Sophia Redler was 17th in the 1,500 in 4:53.07. CU's 4x400 relay team of Manchester, Gehred, Reyna Heisserer and Alexis Huddin were seventh, clocking a time of 4:02.97.
Also leading CU on the men's side was Kyle Nelson (1:54.82) in the 800 and Dominic Ricci (10:45.08) in the steeplechase.
CU will send Anika Nettekoven and Jake Ziebarth to the Wake Forest Invitational next Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., and a few others head to the Big Red Classic in Lincoln on Friday.
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| 400 | Natalee Gehred | 1:00.51 | 14th | 800 | Kyle Nelson | 1:54.82 | 17th | |
| 400 | Saige Christen | 1:02.77 | 22nd | 800 | Michael Bianco | 1:56.56 | 23rd | |
| 400 | Sophia Valentine | 1:03.29 | 23rd | 800 | Jake Ziebarth | DNF | DNF | |
| 800 | Carly Manchester | 2:15.22 | 15th | 800 | Matthew Lindgren | DNS | DNS | |
| 800 | Quinn Hays | 2:16.48 | 19th | 1500 | Gus Lampe | 4:02.26 | 11th | |
| 800 | Reyna Heisserer | 2:18.74 | 22nd | 1500 | Tommy Murray | 3:56.36 | 2nd | |
| 800 | Alexis Huddin | 2:19.40 | 23rd | 1500 | Cole Haith | 3.59.47 | 6th | |
| 800 | Anika Nettekoven | DNF | DNF | 1500 | Oliver Annus | 3:59.68 | 9th | |
| 1500 | Sophia Redler | 4:53.07 | 17th | 5000 | Andrew Sauer | 15:20.79 | 10th | |
| 1500 | Alexis Leone | 4:58.40 | 20th | 5000 | Lucas Bossinger | 15:41.03 | 19th | |
| 5000 | Scarlett Pearlman | 18:23.75 | 10th | 5000 | Eli Moore | 14:49.85 | 3rd | |
| 5000 | Molly Rogers | 19:08.16 | 16th | 5000 | Noah Jodon | 14:50.56 | 4th | |
| 5000 | Katherine Soule | 19:19.34 | 18th | 5000 | Owen Marett | DNF | DNF | |
| 5000 | Taylor Rorick | 17:35.62 | 3rd | 5000 | Jonathan Lukas | DNF | DNF | |
| 5000 | Sarah Vaske | 18:02.90 | 6th | 5000 | Conor Gross | DNS | DNS | |
| 5000 | Madeline Lage | DNF | DNF | 400h | Gabe Hamilton | 54.58 | 5th | |
| Javelin | Sophia Valentine | 32.32 | 2nd | 400h | Logan Piper | 54.79 | 8th | |
| 4x400 | Manchester/Gehred/Heisserer/Huddin | 4:02.97 | 7th | 4x400 | Lampe/Murray/Haith//Annus | 3:36.84 | 10th | |
| 4x400 | Nelson/Piper/Hamilton/Ziebarth | 3:20.00 | 7th | |||||
| Steeple | Dominic Ricci | 10:45.08 | 13th | |||||
| Javelin | Jackson Daniel | 58.63 | 1st | |||||
| Javelin | Jacob Ludwick | 56.10 | 2nd |
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
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