Guidry, Theisen get MIAC track honors

April 23, 2008

St. Thomas swept the weekly MIAC women's track and field athlete of the week awards that were announced Tuesday. Junior Katie Theisen of New Prague High was the track recepient, and senior teammate Shara Guidry of Thief River Falls was the field honoree.

Theisen won the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Manitou Classic last Saturday in her first career try at the event. Her time of 10:59.98 on a cold, windy day met the NCAA provisional standard and ranks 10th in Division III thus far in 2008. Theisen's time also set a new St. Thomas school record and is a new Manitou meet and facility record. Theisen also won the triple jump with a leap of 36-3 1-4.

Guidry broke two of the oldest UST school track and field records on the charts and had three NCAA provisional qualifying marks at last Tuesday's Cobber Twilight Meet. Guidry, the 2007 NCAA Division III champion in the discus, broke a 20-year-old UST record in the discus (152-0, which is ranked third in the nation); broke a 27-year-old UST record in the shot put (45-10 1-2, which ranks fourth in the nation); and hit an NCAA provisional mark in the hammer throw (152-1).

Katie Theisen