Women's, Men's DMR relays sharp in Iowa

February 15, 2008

The St. Thomas women's track and field distance medley team ran Division III's fastest time of the season Friday with a third-place finish out of 17 teams at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.

Sophomores Kelly Russ (800), Nikki Arola (400) and Erin Sprangers (1200) and junior anchor Katie Theisen (1600) ran 11:44.20  -- 21 seconds better than the previous Tommie school record. That time was run in a field of Division I and II teams. The conversion for the oversize track will adjust the time up about four seconds but it will still be well under the NCAA automatic qualifying standard of 11:53 for the March indoor nationals.

In the weight throw, Carol Comp threw 52-7 1-2 and took 28th out of 54 entrants, and Shara Guidry threw 51-4 1-2 for 32nd.

The UST men won their heat in the distance medley and with an NCAA Provisional qualifying time of 10:00.51 clocking, which will convert to about 10:04.5. That placed the Tommies eighth out of 17 teams, with all others Division I and II. Matt Boumeester (800), P.J. Theisen (400), Brian Sames (1200) and Neil Atzinger (1600) comprised the relay.

On Saturday, St. Thomas track and field will have women athletes competing at St. Cloud State and men's athletes competing at St. Olaf.