Wayne State University Athletics

Keneisha Thomas became the first WSU women's hurdler to run a sub-60 for 400m.

Women's Track & Field 5/9/2025 9:41:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Outdoor Track Participates In Michigan's Len Paddock Open

Thomas continues record-setting spring in 400m hurdles.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Twelve (12) members of the Wayne State University women's outdoor track and field squad competed on Friday at Michigan's Len Paddock Open in one of the few remaining Last Chance Meets for Division 2 student-athletes attempting to qualify, or improve their placement, for selection to the NCAA Division 2 national championship meet.

Redshirt sophomore Keneisha Thomas did just that, eclipsing her own school record in the 400m hurdles with the 14th-fastest time in NCAA Division 2 this spring at 59.88.

QUOTING COACH LOFDAHL
"Keneisha is having an incredible season. She missed almost all of indoor track this year with an injury, so it's been amazing to watch her pick up right where she left off last spring. She's broken the school record five times this year in one if the most grueling and challenging events in track and field, the 400-meter hurdles, and breaking the 60-second barrier today is a huge accomplishment. We're very optimistic that she will have one more meet coming up in two weeks out west!"

Participating in the Michigan Len Paddock Open were:

100m Dash (School Record - 11.61, Makayla Sumrall, 2022)
Emmanuela Johnson (Jr., Clinton Township, Mich. / Chippewa Valley), 12th, 12.52

200m Dash (School Record - 24.03, Hanne Bastiaansen, 2024)
Hanne Bastiaansen (Jr., Tessenderlo, Belgium), 3rd, 24.42
Rachel Overgaard (So., Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron), 5th, 24.66 [3rd in School History]
Emmanuela Johnson (Jr., Clinton Township, Mich. / Chippewa Valley), 9th, 25.21
Catalla Jones (So., Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike [Marian]), 10th, 25.23

800m Run (School Record - 2:11.66, Jackie Feist, 2019)
Rachel Felstow (Jr., Leonard, Mich. / Romeo), 12th, 2:17.38

4x100m Relay (School Record - 46.17, Catalla Jones, Elyse Miller, Hanne Bastiaansen, Rachel Overgaard, 2025)
Catalla Jones (So., Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike [Marian]), Elyse Miller (Jr., Woodhaven, Mich. / Gibraltar Carlson), Hanne Bastiaansen (Jr., Tessenderlo, Belgium), Rachel Overgaard (So., Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron), 3rd, 46.76

4x400m Relay Final (School Record - 3:46.39, Imani Bush, Dazmonique Carr, Leah Ellis, Jordan Baker, 2016)
Avery Wilson (Jr., Davison, Mich.), Keneisha Thomas (R-So., Madison Heights, Mich. / Lamphere), Elyse Miller (Jr., Woodhaven, Mich. / Gibraltar Carlson), Renae Kutcha (Sr., Jackson, Mich. / Lumen Christi), 1st, 3:47.98

High Jump (School Record - 1.70m, Jessie Kluz, 2015)
Ava Steinhebel (Fr., Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford), 5th, 1.45m (4-09.00)

Long Jump (School Record - 5.74m, Jessie Kluz, 2016)
Annabelle Smith (Jr., Blissfield, Mich. [Willamette]), 4th, 5.37m (17-07.50)

400m Hurdles Final (School Record - 1:00.04, Keneisha Thomas, 2025)
Keneisha Thomas (R-So., Madison Heights, Mich. / Lamphere), 2nd, 59.88 [SCHOOL RECORD] [NCAA PROVISIONAL]
Makenzie Wellner (Sr., Menominee, Mich.), 9th, 1:04.38

UP NEXT
As mentioned above, selections to the NCAA Championships will be announced on May 13.

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Players Mentioned

Hanne Bastiaansen: Sprints; 5' 5"; Junior; 3-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Rachel Felstow: Mid-Distance; 5' 8"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Emmanuela Johnson: Sprints; 5' 4"; Junior; 2-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Renae Kutcha: Sprints/Jumps; 5' 8"; Senior; 4-Indoor/4-Outdoor

Elyse Miller: Sprints; 5' 9"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Rachel Overgaard: Sprints; 5' 5"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Annabelle Smith: Sprints/Jumps; 5' 4"; Junior; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Ava Steinhebel: Jumps; 5' 10"; Freshman; 1-Indoor/1-Outdoor

Keneisha Thomas: Sprints/Hurdles; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; 1-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Makenzie Wellner: Sprints/Hurdles; 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/4-Outdoor

Players Mentioned

Hanne Bastiaansen
: 5' 5"; Junior; 3-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints

Rachel Felstow
: 5' 8"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Mid-Distance

Emmanuela Johnson
: 5' 4"; Junior; 2-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Sprints

Renae Kutcha
: 5' 8"; Senior; 4-Indoor/4-Outdoor
: Sprints/Jumps

Elyse Miller
: 5' 9"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Sprints

Rachel Overgaard
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints

Annabelle Smith
: 5' 4"; Junior; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints/Jumps

Ava Steinhebel
: 5' 10"; Freshman; 1-Indoor/1-Outdoor
: Jumps

Keneisha Thomas
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; 1-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints/Hurdles

Makenzie Wellner
: 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/4-Outdoor
: Sprints/Hurdles