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Womens track start spring season

Emily Uzzell
April 11, 2002

The St. Olaf Women?s Track and Field team began their outdoor season this past weekend at the Hamline Invitational. Despite the weather, the women proved that they have all the components of a strong track and field team. Though no team scores were kept, the women proved they could compete hard immediately following spring break.

The runners in all events began the outdoor season, exactly where they left off from indoors. Melissa Botzet (FY, Fairmont, Minn.) finished 2cd in the 100 meter dash and 5th in the 200 meter dash. Kristy Gloe (So., Madison, Wisc.) finished 8th in both sprinting events. The 4x100 meter relay team finished 4th and 5th, with all members running under 14 seconds. Becky Peterson (So., Plymouth, Minn.) lead both the hurdle events where she finished 1st in the 100 meter hurdles and 5th in the 400 meter hurdles. Marit Grorud (So., Fremont, Nebr.) placed 3rd in the open 400 meter dash with teammates Abby Love (So., Appleton, Wisc.) and Taryn Weakly (Jr., Milwaukee, Wisc.) finishing 5th and 6th. The 4x400-meter relay team composed of Love, Daymont, Peterson, and Grorud crossed the line in 1st place.

In the longer distances, the runners exposed their toughness by racing through all conditions. Megan Daymont (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) won both the 800 and 1,500-meter races. April Graves (FY, Shorewood, Minn.) finished 4th in the steeplechase, even though there were no water barriers due to the weather. Graves also finished 6th in the 5,000 meter race with teammates Brigid Franey (Sr., Lexington, KY) and Erica Clausen (FY, Wheaton, Ill.) finishing 3rd and 7th, respectively.

The field events also had a strong day. Sarah Beggs (Sr., Klamath Falls, Oreg.) finished first in triple jump with teammate Sonja Moe (FY, Northfield, Minn.) right behind in second place. Beggs also received 7th in long jump with teammates Peterson and Leah Dvorak (Jr., Elma, Iowa) finishing 3rd and 5th, respectively. Dvorak also cleared 5?1" in the high jump, tying for 1st place. The throwers also had a solid shot put day; the other throws were canceled because of the weather, but all finished in the top eight. Emily Uzzell (Jr., Norfolk, Nebr.), Jennifer Levenhagen (So., Appleton, Wisc.), Lorna Wilson (FY, Wasilla, AK), and Marghet Hager (FY, Randolph, NJ) finished 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th respectively.

The next competition for the St. Olaf Women will be Saturday, April 13th at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa beginning at 10 am.

Contact LeAnn Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.