Gustavus senior Kristin Petersen won the NCAA Division III Championship in the discus on Friday afternoon. The meet is being held at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.
Petersen won the title with an effort of 159′ 6″, which is a new school record. She set the previous record of 156′ 1″ at the MIAC Championships in early May.
Petersen is the first women’s track and field athlete at Gustavus to claim an individual national title. She is the first track and field athlete to win a national title since Aaron Smith won the NCAA men’s hammer throw championship in May of 1999.
Petersen’s teammate Jackie Luehmann will compete in the shot put on Saturday afternoon.