Senior Janey Helland got the Gustavus women’s indoor track and field team off to a good start with a victory in the pentathlon at the 2011 MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday night in St. Paul. Helland, who finished runner-up in the pentathlon last season, tallied 3512 points to win the event. Clare Murn of Saint Benedict placed second with 2958 points, while Kameron Argiannis of Hamline took third with 2952 points. Helland’s total of 3512 broke her own school record of 3503 that she set at the MSU, Mankato Invitational on Saturday, February 5. According to the Raceberry Jam website, Helland’s total of 3512 is the third best all-time in Division III.
Helland placed first in four of the five pentathlon events, including the 55-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and long jump. She ran a 8.98 in the 55 hurdles, cleared 5’ 5.25” in the high jump, recorded a distance of 33’ 3” in the shot put, and a leap of 18’ 6” in the long jump. She finished the night with an eighth place finish in the 800-meter run (2:33.44). Her marks in the high jump (5-5.25) and long jump (18-6) were NCAA provisional qualifying marks, however Helland had already qualified for the NCAA Championships in the long jump and heptathlon with marks she recorded at the MSU, Mankato Invitational.
The 2011 MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships continues Friday, March 4, at 4:00 pm.
What a women!!! Congrats Janey
Nice Job!