Sweeney, Comp, Arola get MIAC track honors

March 13, 2008

Team champion St. Thomas swept three of four MIAC women's track and field awards for the 2008 indoor championships. Coach Joe Sweeney won Coach of the Year honors, and senior Carol Comp (Most Outstanding Field Performer) and sophomore Nikki Arola (Most Outstanding Track Performer) also were honored.

Sprinter Kate Staat (SR-Apple Valley) also was named to the MIAC Sportsmanship Team.

Sweeney, who also was named MIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year last fall, guided the Tommies to 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 victories was in contrast to the 2007 meet in which they used depth to win the team title with only one individual champion.

Sweeney also was named NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year as he has seven athletes competing this weekend at the Division III national meet.

Now in his 28th season in coaching UST teams, Sweeney was named the 1995 National Coach of the Year in track and field, and he's been honored as MIAC Coach of the Year several times. The Chicago native was a standout distance runner for the Tommies in the late 1970s and was elected into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.

Arola (SO-Chisholm) had a hand in five victories to lead St. Thomas. Arola won Saturday's 200 after sweeping the 55 and 400 on Friday. She anchored the 4x400 to an improved NCAA provisional time of 3:57.61 and led off the winning 800 relay (1:45.99). On Friday, Arola won the 55 meter dash in a photo finish at 7.41 over Augsburg's Whitney Holman, then won the 400 in 58.41, a time that improved her NCAA provisional qualifying standing. Arola will run the leadoff 400 leg of the distance medley relay Friday at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Ada, Ohio.

Comp (SR-Edina) swept the throwing events as she won Saturday's shot put (42-2) and Friday's weight throw (52-5 1-4). She will compete in the weight throw Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Ada, Ohio.

Bethel's Marie Borner received the honor for Most Outstanding Performance as she smashed the conference record in the mile run by nearly 11 seconds, and broke the McNeely Spectrum record by more than 18 seconds. In doing so, she earned an automatic NCAA championship meet bid.

St. Thomas' MIAC Coach of the Year honorees thus far in 2007-08:

Volleyball: Thanh Pham (1st conf., 1st playoff, tie 9 NCAA)

Women's Cross Country: Joe Sweeney (1st of 12, 25th NCAA)

Men's Basketball: Steve Fritz (1st conf., 1st playoff, tie 33rd NCAA)

Women's Basketball: Ruth Sinn (tie 1st conf., 2nd playoff, tie 33rd NCAA)

Women's Swimming: Tom Hodgson (co-recipient) (5th of 11)

Men's Swimming: Tom Hodgson (4th of 8)

Men's Indoor Track: Steve Mathre (1st of 11)

Women's Indoor Track: Joe Sweeney (1st of 12)

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Current MIAC Consecutive Team Championship Streaks (won or shared)

(Minimum 2)

24, St. Thomas Men's Indoor Track, 1985-present

19, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 19, 1989-present
16, Gustavus Women's Tennis, 17, 1992-present

9, St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 2000-present
7, St. Thomas Women's Golf, 2001-present
5, St. Thomas Baseball, 2003-present

4, St. Thomas Softball, 2004-present
4, Gustavus Women's Hockey, 2004-present
4, Gustavus Men's Soccer, 2004-present

3, St. Thomas Women's Outdoor Track, 2005-presest
3, St. Thomas Men's Basketball, 2005-present
3, St. Ben¹s Women's Basketball, 2005-present

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All-Time MIAC Team Consecutive Titles (**-still active)

(Minimum 7)

24, **St. Thomas Men's Indoor Track, 1985-present
20, St. Olaf Men's Swim, 1980-99

19, **Gustavus Men's Tennis, 17, 1989-present
17, Augsburg Wrestling, 1987-2003
14, St. Thomas Men's Outdoor Track, 1983-96
14, St. Thomas Women's Outdoor Track, 1985-98
16, **Gustavus Women's Tennis, 1992-present
13, Gustavus Men's Golf, 1982-94
11, St. Olaf Women's Swimming, 1987-97
11, Augsburg Wrestling, 1975-85
11, Macalester Men's Outdoor Track, 1959-69
10, St. Thomas Men's Cross Country, 1984-93

9, **St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 2000-present

9, St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 1989-97
9, St. Thomas Women's Cross Country, 1981-89
9, Hamline Men's Outdoor Track, 1974-82
9, Minn.-Duluth Men's Hockey, 1953-61

8, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 1977-84
8, Gustavus Men's Hockey, 1966-73
7, **St. Thomas Women's Golf, 2001-present
7, St. Thomas Men's Hockey, 1989-95
7, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 1969-75