The 2010 Gustavus Adolphus women’s indoor track team will hope to remain at the top of the MIAC this season after posting an impressive second place finish at the 2009 MIAC Indoor Track Championships. Seniors Diana Scott (Bristol, Conn./Bristol) and Kaelene Lundstrum (Bird Island, Minn./BOLD), along with juniors Janey Helland (Mapleton, Minn./Maple River) and Samantha Broderius (Hector, Minn./Buffalo Lake-Hector) will lead the Gusties as the four returning All-Conference performers from last season’s team. Lundstrum won the pentathlon and high jump, while finishing third in the 55-meter hurdles, Scott took first in the weight throw, Helland finished second in the long jump, and Broderius took third in the shot put. Lundstrum finished fifth in the pentathlon and seventh in the high jump at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships.
The Gusties will look to build on the other strong finishes from a group of highly talented returners. Senior Meredith Halling (Rochester, Minn./Mayo) finished eighth in the pole vault, as Becca Bryson (Alden, Minn./Alden-Conger) took seventh in the triple jump. Other top Gustavus finishers at the 2009 MIAC Indoor Championships include juniors Anna Bauer (Hastings, Minn./Hastings), Laura Secor (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater), Dani Serbus (Franklin, Minn./Cedar Mountain), Julia Thompson (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls), Abigail Karl (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech), Kate Reins (Osseo, Minn./Osseo), Megan Lundgren (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East), and sophomores Erica Roelofs (Vernon Center, Minn./LCWM) and Sam Frings (Coleraine, Minn./Greenway). Bauer took fourth in the weighted throw, while Lundgren finished fifth in both the long jump and 800 meter dash and seventh in the 600 meter dash. The medley relay team of Secor, Roelofs, Karl, and Reins finished seventh, as did the 4×200 relay team of Frings, Lundgren, Serbus, and Thompson. The 4×400 relay team consisting of Karl, Hellund, and Lundgren took fourth.
Although the Gustavus women’s indoor track and field team is down in numbers from a year ago, Head Coach Dale Bahr is optimistic that his squad will remain at the top of the MIAC and battle for a conference championship. “We have a good opportunity in the distance and sprint events to have some younger runners step up,” said Bahr. “Lundstrum , Broderious, Helland, and Scott will contribute solid points and if the team is able to stay healthy we can make a strong push at the championship.”
Select members of the Gustavus women’s indoor track team will take part in the Bethel University Invite on Saturday, Jan. 16, in Arden Hills, Minn.