Arola, Guidry get MIAC Women's Track honors

May 13, 2008

St. Thomas received three special awards after a record-setting victory at last weekend's MIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Sprinter Nikki Arola (SO-Chisholm), who had a hand in four firsts, was named Outstanding Track Athlete. Thrower Shara Guidry (SR-Thief River Falls), who swept the shot put and discus and took second in the hammer, was named Outstanding Field Athlete. Coach Joe Sweeney was named Coach of the Year.

Gustavus' Lisa Brown won the javelin in a Division III-season best 158-3 and received an overall award as best meet performance.

Arola won the 200 (25.91) and 400 (56.81) and ran on the winning 4x100 (48.47) and 4x400 (3:55.24). Last March in the MIAC indoor meet, she won five events.

Guidry, the 2007 NCAA discus champion, ranks on the Division III season list in three events -- seventh in the discus, eighth in the shot put and 21st in the hammer.

Sweeney became the first active Division III coach to win 60 team championships as his Tommies rolled up a record 262 points last weekend for a runaway victory over runner-up Gustavus. Swseeney's teams have won 60 of a possible 78 MIAC team titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in his 28 seasons. Three D-III men's coaches have active streaks of 60 or higher.