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Cardinals come up with 3 school records, 6 firsts at Pre-MIAC
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — If Friday's Pre-MIAC Invitational was supposed to serve as a preview of next weekend's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, Saint Mary's University track and field coach Kirk Nauman better prepare himself for a pretty impressive performance.
The Cardinals shattered three school records, posted a pair of NCAA Division III provisional qualifying marks and won six events during Friday's meet.
"We had a great night," understated Nauman, whose team has now broken five school records and won a combined 12 events in their last two meets. "It was a little hairy on the drive home with the snowy weather conditions, but with the performances we had, it was well worth the trip."
Ashley Luehmann (Lewiston, Minn.) improved her provisional qualifying mark in the shot put, winning the event with a throw of 13.31 meters, while Amanda Weinmann (Rochester, Minn.) also had a provisional-qualifying throw of 13.11 to place second, but the toss was well short of her 13.46 throw from earlier this season. Weinmann also picked up a first-place finish in the weight throw, winning the event with a toss of 15.71 meters.
Teri Heinzen (Marshfield, Wis.) chipped in a first-place effort in the long jump (5.14 meters), while adding a fourth in the 200 (27.15). Heinzen was also a member of the Cardinals' winning 4x400 relay, teaming with Kathleen Pawlowski (Chicago, Ill.), Ashley Acosta (Winnebago, Minn.) and Emily Bartusek (Albert Lea, Minn.) to post a time of 4:17.19. Bartusek also broke the school record in the 200, placing second in 26.62, while Kim Koecheler (St. Paul, Minn. / 2nd, 1,000, 3:13.47), Sarah Zweber (Elko, Minn. / 3rd, 1,000, 3:16.40), Alicia Hartung (Menomonie, Wis. / 5th, 1,000, 3:20.87), Tera Bollig (Cambridge, Minn. / 6th, mile, 5:30.62), Katie Schultz (Alden, Minn. / 6th, high jump, 1.43 meters) and Acosta (6th, 600,, 1:53.67) chipped in top six finishes.
Chris Fisette (Elmhurst, Ill.) led the way on the men's side, shattering his own school mark in the triple jump, winning the event with a leap of 13.22 meters, while also posting a first-place jump of 6.40 meters to win the long jump by over 14 inches. John Vallez (Eagan, Minn.) set a new school record in the 1,000 (2:38.35), while Derek Wherley (Missoula, Mont.) was fourth in the weight throw (12.89 meters) and sixth in the shot put (12.88 meters), and Marty Howard (Chicago, Ill.) was fifth in the 600 (1:19.48).
"We had a number of athletes turn in career bests in their respective events, and that's great to see at this stage in the season," said Nauman. "This was a great way for us to tune-up for next weekend's MIAC Championships."