Women's Track gets 60th MIAC title for Sweeney

1st of 12
at MIAC Champ (W), May 10, 2008

St. Thomas women's track and field coach Joe Sweeney claimed his 60th MIAC team championship out of a possible 78 in his 28-year career as the Tommies put up a record point total to win the MIAC outdoor track and field meet. 

Led by Nikki Arola's four victories, the Tommies rolled up 262 points for a runaway team win in the two-day MIAC Championships that concluded Saturday night at Hamline University. UST won 14 of 22 events including all three relays.

The Tommies swept MIAC cross country, indoor track and outdoor track team crowns for the second year in a row and won both the conference indoor and outdoor track title for the fourth consecutive year.

Sweeney is believed to be the only active Division III coach in any sport to guide women's teams to 60 conference championships. Three D-III men's coaches have 60 or more titles.

The Tommies' 262 points topped runner-up Gustavus (155.5). Concordia (83.5) edged Hamline (82.5) for third place. The Toms scored in all 20 events they entered and in all 15 held Saturday and received points from 24 different athletes.

Coupled with the UST men's track team victory, St. Thomas closed the 2007-08 school year with 11 MIAC team titles -- one off its own conference record of 12. UST won women's conference titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, golf, softball and tied for first in basketball. The Tommie men swept indoor and outdoor track and won basketball and baseball.

The Tommie victory also secured a sweep of the MIAC All-Sport titles for men and women. It's the first male-female sweep for St. Thomas since 1998. The UST women scored 113.5 to top runner-up Gustavus by 15 points. The Tommie men scored 88.5 to top Gustavus (82.5) and St. John's (81.5).

Arola won the 200 (25.91) and 400 (56.81) and ran on the winning 4x100 (48.47) and 4x400 (3:55.24). Joining her on the 4x100 was Shionna Evans, Kate Staat and Jenna Ewing.

Katie Theisen had a hand in 43 points. She won the steeplechase (11:07), anchored the winning 4x800, ran on the winning 4x400 with Raynee DeGrio, Evans and Arola, took second in the 400 hurdles (64.65) and placed fourth in the triple jump (35-3 1-4).

Selina Dehn swept the triple jump (38-6 3-4) and long jump (17-8 1-4), and took fourth in the high jump (5-1 3-4). Shara Guidry swept the discus (142-11) and shot put (40-7) and took second in the hammer (152-11).

Erin Sprangers won the 800 in 2:11.66 -- the seventh fastest Division III time thus far this spring. She also ran on the winning 4x800 relay with Betsy Hupp, Kelly Russ and Theisen that set a meet record in 9:08.67.

Laura Janas won the 100 hurdles in 15.00. Staat won the 100 (12.73) and took second in the 200 (26.25).

Carol Comp won the hammer in 160-6 -- just four inches off Guidry's school record.

Other runners-up were Alyssa Salomone in the high jump (5-3); Ewing in the 100 (12.75); DeGrio in the 800 (2:15.56); Russ in the 1,500 (4:40.55); Melissa Kuebler in the 100 hurdles (15.19); and Anne Iddins in the steeplechase (11:14.32). Julie Anderson took third in the 5,000 (18:00.67). Kuebler took fourth in the 400 hurdles (65.07) and Angela McGehee placed fourth in the pole vault (10-8 1-4). Felisha Willaert placed fifth in the shot put (38-3 1-2). Sixths were scored by Britney Daniel in the pole vault (10-2 1-2); Allie Metzler in the 5,000 (18:20.74); Comp in the shot put (38-2 1-4); and Jenna Lewis in the discus (129-5). Lewis also placed seventh in the hammer (131-8); Kyley Crotty took seventh in the javelin (111-10); Evans placed seventh in the 400 (60.38) and eighth in the 200 (27.55); and Julianna Gorder took eighth in the long jump (16-3 1-4).

Click here for complete results:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/miacmensodevents.html

St. Thomas seniors swept all eight MIAC indoor and outdoor titles in their era. (Mike Ekern photo)

Katie Theisen (left) and Anne Iddins finished 1-2 in the steeplechase. (Mike Ekern photo)

Selina Dehn swept the long jump and triple jump. (Mike Ekern photo)