Women’s 4x4 Closes Out D-II Nationals With Seventh-Place Finish

It's the Ashland University track and field way – individuals and relays finishing better at NCAA Division II nationals than projections and seeds.
 
On Saturday (May 27) night, on the third and final day of the 2023 D-II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colo., the Eagle women's 4x400-meter relay team of fifth-year Cheyanne Davis, freshmen Montana Walker and Jade Avance and sophomore Mia Gardner took seventh place in a season-best 3:39.55.
 
Ashland's 4x4 quartet was the 15^th-best in D-II coming into nationals.

Davis and Gardner now are three-time D-II All-Americans, Avance is a two-time D-II All-American, and this is the first such citation for Walker.
 
On Thursday (May 25), sophomore Kelsey Kinsley took sixth place in the women's hammer throw – well ahead of her 12^th-place ranking in D-II going into nationals.
 
NOTABLE

• Kinsley competed in the women's shot put on Saturday afternoon, finishing in a tie for 15^th place at 14.26 meters/46-feet-9½. Kinsley was the 18^th-best shot putter in D-II prior to nationals.
• Ashland's women ended nationals in a tie for 36^th place as a team with five points.