Nikki Arola has fast 200 for Women's Track

No team scores
UST Invite, May 05, 2008

The St. Thomas women's track and field team had two new NCAA Provisional Qualifying times and three other improved provisional times at Sunday's UST Invitational meet held in Northfield at St. Olaf College.

Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State and St. Olaf also competed in the non-team scored competition.

Sophomore Nikki Arola was second in the 200 meters in 24.98 -- a provisional qualifier and the 10th-fastest time thus far in Division III. It's also the second best women's 200 time in UST history behind Andrea Budig's 24.44 in 1996.

Arola also ran on the second-place 4x100 relay in 48.34 which improved its provisional time. Shiona Evans, Kate Staat and Jenna Ewing also ran on the relay. Arola also anchored the Tommies' 4x400 relay that took first in 3:54.77 in a time that's a provisional qualifier and now ranks 13th in Division III. Raynee DeGrio, Erin Sprangers and Katie Theisen also ran on that unit.

In the 800 meters, Theisen (2:13.16) and Sprangers (2:14.30) placed 2-3 and improved their provisional qualifying times in that event. Kelly Russ (2:15.55) and DeGrio placed 4-5 in that event.

Melissa Kuebler took first in the 100 hurdles (15.23) and fourth in the 400 hurdles (66.92). Laura Janas (15.85) and (71.01) placed fourth and sixth in those races.

Alyssa Salomone cleared a season-best 5-4 1-4 in the high jump, just off the 5-5 NCAA Provisional qualifying standard. Salomone also took sixth in the long jump (16-1 1-2).

Selina Dehn placed second in the triple jump (34-7), second in the high jump (5-1 1-4) and third in the long jump (16-9 1-4). 

Evans placed second in the 400 (59.51) and sixth in the 200 (26.53). Ewing took second in the 100 (12.79) and fifth in the 200 (26.38).

Allie Metzler took third in the 5,000 (5:02.91). Julianna Gorder took fourth in the long jump (16-7 3-4) and fifth in the triple jump (32-9 3-4). Becky Theisen placed fifth in the long jump (16-6 1-2). Britney Daniel tied for sixth in the pole vault (10-0 1-2). Molly Demmer placed sixth in the 400 meters (61.57).

Some UST throwers competed Sunday at the Hamline Meet of the Unsaintly. Carol Comp took third in the hammer (158-3), fifth in the discus (140-10) and sixth in the shot put (40-9 3-4). Kyley Crotty placed second in the javelin (122-10).

The Tommies will look to repeat as team champs this Friday and Saturday at the MIAC Championships hosted by Hamline University.

Click here for complete UST results:

http://web1.www.stthomas.edu/track/HomeMeets08INVITE.htm

Click here for Hamline results (UST throwers):

http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/athletics/womens_track/2008/UnsaintlyWomens.htm