What do Janey Helland (Mapleton, Minn.) and Charlie Scheen have in common this year? Duh…winning, as the senior played a game of possum at the 2011 MIAC Heptathlon, sitting in second place following the first day’s competition, then turning it on in day two. Helland placed first in all three events on day two, winning the title with 4,595 points. She is the first Gustavus track and field athlete to win the MIAC Heptathlon back-to-back seasons. Concordia’s Kaari Jensen finished runner-up with 4,265 points, and Saint Benedict’s Steph Kortan placed third with 4,080 points. The 2011 MIAC Heptathlon took place in Northfield, Minn. on May 5-6.
Helland started the day by winning the long jump with a leap of 17’ 10.75”. She then recorded a first place throw of 116’ 9” in the javelin. The Mapleton, Minn. native capped off the meet by winning the 800-meter run with a time of 2:20.61. Over the two-day event, Helland won four portions of the heptathlon, while taking second in another two.
Gustavus’ Erica Roelofs (Vernon Center, Minn.) finished fifth with 3,890 points, while Laura Secor (Stillwater, Minn.) came in 10th with 3,626 points. Roelofs’ top event of the day was the javelin where she placed third with a throw of 93’ 2”. She also finished seventh in the 800-meter run (2:28.71) and ninth in the long jump (14’ 10.75”). Secor notched two top-five marks on day two, placing fourth in the 800-meter (2:23.54) and fifth in the javelin (88’ 9”).
Helland, Roelofs, and Secor will join the rest of the Gustavus women’s track and field team at the 2011 MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Gustavus May 13-14 in St. Peter.