Women's Track wins MIAC indoor for ninth year in row

1st of 12
at MIAC Indoor Meet, March 08, 2008

Sophomore Nikki Arola had a hand in five victories to lead the St. Thomas women's track and field team to a runaway victory Saturday at the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville.

Coach Joe Sweeney's Tommies claimed the program's ninth consecutive MIAC indoor team championship and set records for points scored (233) and margin of victory (134.5). It was Sweeney's 59th MIAC team title of a possible 77 in cross country, indoor and outdoor track.

The Tommies had 12 firsts and scored in all 18 events they entered. The Toms' 10 individual wins was in contrast to the 2007 meet in which they used depth to win the team title with only one individual champion.

Arola won Saturday's 200 (25.42) after sweeping the 55 and 400 on Friday. She anchored the 4x400 to an improved NCAA provisional time of 3:57.61. She was joined by Raynee DeGrio, Erin Sprangers and Katie Theisen. Arola also led off the winning 800 relay with Selina Dehn, Shionna Evans and Kate Staat in 1:45.99.

Dehn capped a sweep of the horizontal jumps as she won Saturday's triple jump in 37-0 1-2. She also ran on the wining 800-meter relay.

Sprangers, who was a close second in Friday's 800, won Saturday's 1000 in 2:55.45, a facility record. Carol Comp capped a sweep of the throwing events as she won Saturday's shot put (42-2).

Click here for complete results:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp

Friday Story

Sophomore Nikki Arola won the 55 and 400 dashes Friday to help the St. Thomas women's track and field team zoom to a 56-point lead at the halfway point of the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville.

Coach Joe Sweeney's Tommies are looking to claim the program's ninth consecutive indoor team championship. With 11 of 20 events completed, the Tommies have 119 points and lead closest pursuers Concordia (63) and Bethel (52) in the 12-team field.

Arola won in a photo finish at 7.41 over Augsburg's Whitney Holman (same time), then won the 400 in 58.41, a time that improved her NCAA provisional qualifying standing.

Junior Katie Theisen won the 800 in a meet-record time of 2:15, just ahead of sophomore teammate Erin Sprangers (2:15.40). Senior Selina Dehn won the long jump (17-6 3-4). UST also had 1-2 finishes in the 55 hurdles with sophomore Laura Janas (8.63) and freshman Melissa Kuebler (8.71), and in the weight throw with seniors Carol Comp (52-5 1-4) and Shara Guidry (51-5 1-2).

Freshman Raynee DeGrio took third in the 800 (2:18.67); soph Kelly Russ placed third in the mile (5:09.60); and senior Julie Anderson was third in the 3,000 (18:30.82). Senior Kate Staat was fifth in the 55 dash (7.55). Sixths were scored by senior Anne Iddins in the 3,000 (18:43.52); Felisha Willaert in the weight throw (46-10 3-4); and Alyssa Salomone in the high jump (5-1 3-4). Jenna Ewing placed seventh in the 55 (7.61). Betsy Hupp took eighth in the 800 (2:25.83) and Dehn was eighth in the high jump (4-11 3-4). 

Click here to access Friday results and Saturday heat sheets:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp