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Women's Track Looking Forward to Challenge in 2001 Season

Chris Daymont
March 27, 2001

The 2001 St. Olaf women's track team will be young, but are looking forward to the challenge of a new season. It may be tough to repeat last year?s team success (3rd indoors and 4th in the outdoor MIAC championships), but the goal is always the same -- to finish among the top teams in the conference.

The Oles lost valuable point scorers with the graduation of All-American distance runner Christina Vetter (Chisago Lakes, MN) and the Oles best sprinter, Amanda Olson, (Northfield, MN) . However, there is a strong nucleus of returning athletes that make the prospects for this rebuilding season exciting. Leading the Oles will be senior co-captain Janet Hengel (Sartell, MN). Hengel is a returning All American pole vaulter having finished fourth in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships last spring. Hengel is also the Oles best hurdler and a member of the sprint relay teams.

The middle distance crew will be led by sophomore Megan Daymont (Northfield, MN). Daymont was the team MVP last season and was voted the MIAC Athlete of the Meet at the 2000 Indoor Conference Championships. Daymont will look to defend her titles in the 800M and 1500M races. An indoor and outdoor national qualifier last year, she has set her sights on earning All-American status this season. She is also a member of the Ole 1600 M relay, 3200 M relay and the Distance Medley Relay. Junior Megan Call (Logan, UT) will also play a huge role on the Ole team. Call specializes in the 1500 meter run, but can race well in the 800 M as well as the 3000 M. Seniors Katie Storlie (St. Louis Park, MN), co-captain Sara Daymont (Northfield, MN) and sophomores Taryn Weakly (Milwaukee, WI), Traci Bartz (Bemidji, MN), Kris Hup (Waseca, MN) and Dawn Mielke (Hutchinson, MN) will also be key middle distance runners for the Oles. First year students and excellent high school middle distance runners, Marit Grorud (Fremont, NE) and Abby Love (Appleton, WI) will also help to fill in the gaps left by graduation.

The Distance events will be covered by a group of outstanding seniors. Co-captain Anne Sateren (Minneapolis, MN), Suzanne DePaulo (St. Louis Park, MN), Megan Magnall (Waverly, IA), and Mary Reid (Cedar Falls, IA) have all scored in the MIAC meet. Look for first -year students Kjersten Johnson (Stevens Point, WI) and Brit Carlson (Stillwater, MN) to make the transition from cross country to the track in fine fashion.

Sophomore Leah Dvorak is the top returning Ole in the multi-events and will get help from first year students Becky Peterson (Plymouth, MN) and Jennifer Levenhagen (Appleton, WI). Sophomore Lisa Eidenschink (Detroit Lakes, MN), a national outdoor qualifier in the discus, will join the team after the basketball season and has aspirations of adding All-American discus thrower to her resume this season. Co-captain Emily Uzzel (Norfolk, NE), junior Amanda Jacobsen (Iola, WI), and first-year Jennifer Levenhagen (Appleton, WI) will also contribute in the throwing events.

Head Coach Chris Daymont is in her 20th year of coaching at St. Olaf College. Daymont says, "We will be young, but have excellent senior leadership and some very strong individual performers that will help guide the team throughout the season. We're looking forward to another great season of track and field."

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.