WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Gustavus women’s track & field team sent three individuals to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday and all three came home All-Americans.
Annika Poe (Jr., Big Lake) started the morning by taking eighth place in the shot put. After a first throw foul, Poe launched her second attempt 44-10.25, which earned her three more throws in the finals. Although she did not best her second attempt, Poe’s mark remained in eighth place to earn All-America honors. Poe is the first Gustie woman to earn Indoor All-America in the shot put since Hall of Famer Jackie Luehmann in 2004.
Birgen Nelson (So., Edina) then raced in the 60-hurdle finals where she finished seventh with a time of 8.79 for her first Indoor All-America honor and third overall after claiming two All-America honors last spring at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Nelson is the first Gustie woman in program history to earn Indoor All-America in an individual track event.
Elizabeth Donnelly (Sr., Langely, Wash.) then capped the day with a seventh place finish in the 800-meter with a time of 2:14.49, quickly becoming the second Gustavus All-American in a track event. The three All-American honors from Poe, Nelson, and Donnelly mark the first time in program history that three individuals received All-America status in the same NCAA Indoor Championship.
“I’m very proud of Annika, Birgen, and Elizabeth today,” Head Coach Aaroon Lund said. “All three are team captains and all three received All-America honors. They have lead this team throughout the year and definitely deserve this special moment.”