Women's track finishes third at MIAC's

Sports Information
March 3, 2012

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The St. Olaf women's track and field team placed third of twelve teams at the MIAC Indoor Championships this weekend at Macalester College's Leonard Center. The Oles, who were fifth in 2011, have not placed third or better since 2002.

The Oles rolled their momentum from a successful first day into day two of competition, collecting an additional 40 points to hang onto third place through the conclusion of all 20 events.

The Univ. of St. Thomas won their thirteenth straight title with 164 points. Carleton College finished second with 114. St. Olaf's 97 topped the Univ. of Bethel's 85 and the Univ. of St. Benedict's 74.

Rookie Dani Larson cleared 1.69 meters (5-6.5 feet) to set a new MIAC meet record and win the high jump. She also placed sixth in the long jump (5.07 meters, 16-7.75 feet) and anchored the third-place 4x400 meter relay. She was a two-time champion in her first appearance at the MIAC's, with wins in the high jump and pentathlon.

Moriah Novacinski placed third in the 1,000, while Maren Westby finished sixth. Novacinski also ran the second leg of the 4x400.

Emily Stets, Jamie Mosel and Shaina Rud finished 1-2-3 in the second heat of the 600 to place fifth, seventh and eighth overall in the event. Rud came back to lead off the 4x400 and Emily Stets ran the third leg of the relay.

The 4x200 relay comprised of Gina Collings, Callie Knaeble, Britta Olsen and Ellen Hawley ran 1:48.95 to place eighth in the event.

Larson, Westby and Novacinski earned All-Conference accolades for top-three performances in the meet. Mosel and Stets also earned All-Conference honors for teaming up with Westby and Novacinski to win the DMR.

Larson will compete in the pentathlon and high jump next Friday at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field National Championships hosted by Grinnell College, in Grinnell, Iowa.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.