DECATUR, Ill. — For probably the first time all season, Ellen Koranda (Blue Earth, Minn.), felt no pressure when she toed the line for the start of the 1,500 final at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

After all, the Saint Mary's University sophomore was the 12th seed in the 12-person field.

She had nothing to lose — and no where to go but up.

And up she went.

Koranda posted a time of 4:47.30 to place 11th in the 1,500 final Saturday — a finish that impressed head coach Kirk Nauman.

"Ellen did a great job," said Nauman, who helped guide three SMU athletes — Koranda, Jenny Folgers (McHenry, Ill.) and Todd Yankowski (Chicago, Ill.)  — to the national championships in his first year as the Cardinals' head coach. "She came in seeded 12th, and ran a nice race. It was a tough field. Ellen stayed with the pack for the first 800, but (the leaders) just pulled away after that.

"This was a great finish to a great season for Ellen," continued Nauman, who watched Koranda break 10 school records this season. "I'm sure it's a little disappointing finishing 11th out of 12 — but when you think of how many people in the nation compete in the 1,500, and to finish as the 11th best, that's something to be proud of."