The Gustavus Adolphus women’s track and field team will compete in the 2004 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships March 4-6. Saint John’s University is hosting the championships at the McNeely Spectrum in Collegeville, Minnesota. The Gusties finished in second place at the 2003 MIAC Indoor Championships behind the University of Saint Thomas.
Senior Jackie Luehmann is the defending shot put and weight throw MIAC Indoor Champion. Luehmann has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships and holds the top distances in both events in the conference. The senior’s top throws were 49′ 1.5″ in the weight throw and 44′ 8.25″ in the shot put.
Junior Nichole Peterson will compete in the 3000-meter run at the indoor championships. Peterson’s best time in the 3000-meter run this season is 10:26.18, which is the second fastest time in the MIAC. Teammate, junior Tasha Pike, holds the seventh fastest time in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:51.44.
Senior Shannon Martin and Junior Kristi Schneider will compete in the pole vault at the MIAC Indoor Championships. Martin and Scheider have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships jumping a height of 11′ 0.25″ and 10′ 10″, respectively. These heights are the third and fourth highest in the MIAC this indoor season.
Three sprinters for Gustavus have recorded top ten times in the MIAC this season. Sophomore Ashley Cronen has a time of 6.12 in the 400-meter dash, which is the second fastest time in the conference. Junior Ali Cordie has a time of 1:40.71 in the 600-meter dash, which is the fifth fastest time in the conference. Sophomore Blythe Bittman has a time of 7.53 in the 55-meter dash, which is the sixth fastest time in the conference.
The Gusties will look to secure valuable team points in the 800-meter and the 4×400-meter relay races. Gustavus recorded a time of 1:46.68 in the 800-meter relay race, which is the top time in the MIAC. The Gusties hold the second fastest time in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 4:06.95.
The MIAC Indoor Championships will begin Friday afternoon. The schedule of events and championship program can be found at the MIAC Indoor Championship website courtesy of Saint John’s University.