May 6, 2023 – The Loras College track & field programs finished the regular season portion of their 2023 outdoor schedule on Friday afternoon as the Duhawks hosted the Dr. Tucker Open and sent their seniors out in style.

The second-ranked women's team sent some of its seniors out in on high notes in the late-night rain at the Finnegan Family Track on Friday night as the senior class was honored at midfield of the Rock Bowl.

One of the best races of the day for Loras was the 400-meter dash as the Duhawks took each of the top four spots. Senior Gabrielle Noland led the brigade with a blazing 54.09 time that ascended to No. 1 in the country this season. The senior went 2-for-2 on the day as she was also a member of the race-winning 4x100-meter relay team that helped kickoff the afternoon.  

Behind Noland in the 400-meters was senior Alyssa Pfadenhauer in second place with a 54.67, senior Marion Edwards in third place with a 56.04, and sophomore Harmony Creasy in fourth with a 56.58. Behind Noland's top mark, that trio ranks third, 10^th, and 16^th nationally after Friday's race.

The 1500-meter group was just as strong for the Duhawks as graduate-student Kassie Parker led a group of four that finished in the top-13 out of 47 entries in a loaded field. Parker ran a 4:31.92 in her first 1500 in nearly a full calendar year to lead off for senior Ellie Osterberger in seventh overall with a 4:35.06, which ranks fifth in program history.

Right alongside Osterberger was senior Valerie Herbst in eighth overall with a 4:35.27 to rank sixth in program history while senior Kaylee Osterberger came home in 13^th overall with a 4:39.09 to rank ninth all-time at Loras.

The Duhawks crowned eight individuals and relay teams as event champions on Friday night while getting another strong hammer throw performance from freshman Caitlyn Cox. Cox finished second in the hammer with a 53.62-meter mark to move to second all-time at Loras and 14^th-best this season in Division III.  Junior Taylor Flaig also made moves as she finished third with a 50.90-meter toss to move to 10^th in program history and No. 24 in the country in 2023.

The next time the Duhawks hit the track will be in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championship this coming weekend, Thursday-Saturday, May 11-13. The championships will take place in Decorah, Iowa as Luther College prepares to host.