Junior Tanner Miest (New London, Minn.), first-year Lisa Brown (Lake Crystal, Minn.), and Gustavus head track and field coach Tom Thorkelson were each honored Wednesday as the 2006 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Awards were released by the league. Miest captured the MIAC Men’s Outstanding Track Performance, while Brown was honored with the MIAC Women’s Outstanding Field Performance.
Miest remained undefeated in the 110 hurdles this season, repeating as MIAC Champion with a school-record and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 14.53 seconds. Miest’s time currently ranks sixth nationally. This is the fourth time since 1998 that a Gustavus athlete has recorded the MIAC’s Outstanding Male Track/Field Performance, joining thrower Aaron Smith (1998 and 1999) and sprinter Jerry Washington (2002).
Brown captured the title in the javelin throw with a school and meet record mark of 136-11 (41.74m), which also surpassed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Brown’s effort ranks 14th nationally. Brown is thie third Gustavus athlete to record the MIAC’s Outstanding Track/Field Performance, joining thrower April Felt (1999) and sprinter Stacy Horner (2001).
Thorkelson was named MIAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year after leading the Gustavus women to a second place finish at the MIAC Championships. Thorkelson also leads the Gustavus men’s program, which logged a third-place finish. This is the second time Thorkelson has been named MIAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, also being honored in 2001 after the Gustie women recorded a third-place finish at the 2001 MIAC Championships.
A total of 13 athletes turned in 15 individual All-MIAC performances by placing in the top three at the 2006 MIAC Track and Field Championships. The Gustavus men’s 4×100 relay also earned All-MIAC recognition with their first-place finish.