ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 9, 2008) – Within minutes of the first starter’s gun going off, NCAA qualifying times and meet records were being set at the 2008 MIAC outdoor track and field championships, as the University of St. Thomas leads after day one.

After seven completed events, including last weekend’s heptathlon, St. Thomas leads the field with 67 points, followed by Gustavus with 53, and Concordia in third with 50.5 points. The host Hamline Pipers are in fourth with 28.5 points, followed by Saint Benedict with 19, Carleton with 17, Bethel’s 14 points, St. Olaf with 11, St. Catherine has 6, Augsburg is in tenth with 3 points, and Macalester has 1 point after a day of events.

The 2008 meet started off fast, with a meet record and an NCAA provisional time in just the second meet on the track. Shionna Evans (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.), Nikki Arola (So., Chisholm, Minn.), Kate Staat (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) and Jenna Ewing (Fy., Osseo, Minn.) teamed up to form a 400 meter relay from the University of St. Thomas that ran a 47.84, topping their own meet record set in 2007 at 47.94.

Running solo, Arola later set NCAA provisional marks, and the conference’s fastest times so far this season, in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.81 and in the 200 meter dash at 24.85. The finals for both of those races will be run on Saturday.

A much older record fell in the second event on the track, as Marie Borner (So., Cottage Grove, Minn.) broke the MIAC meet record set in 1988 in the 1500 meter run by nearly a second, improving it from 4:33.45 to 4:32.49. The time was also automatically qualified her for the NCAA meet, and was the fast time in the conference this season.

The first finished field event saw similar marks being produced, as the first and second place finishers, both Tommies, hit NCAA provisional marks. Carol Comp (Sr., Edina, Minn.) was crowned champion in her final MIAC meet, winning the hammer throw with a throw of 48.92 meters (160’ 6”). Her teammate Shara Guidry (Sr., Thief River Falls, Minn.) finished in second with a throw of 46.62 meters (152’ 11”).

Guidry did end the day as an MIAC champion however, taking the title in the discus throw at a distance of 43.56 meters (142’ 11”), an NCAA provisional mark.  Sam Broderius (Fy., Hector, Minn.) of Gustavus also hit the NCAA provisional mark with a throw of 41.99 meters (137’ 9”) for second place.

St. Thomas continued to bring home event wins, as the title in the long jump went to another senior Tommie, Selina Dehn (St. Louis Park, Minn.) with a jump of 5.39 meters (17’ 8 ¼”).  The 2007 champion, Sari Lindeman (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) of Gustavus, finished fourth at 5.21 meters (17’ 1 ¼”).

The final race of the evening, St. Thomas finished where they started the meet – with a meet record in a relay. The 3200 meter relay team of Betsy Hupp (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.), Kelly Russ (So., Plymouth, Minn.), Erin Sprangers (So., Hill Murray) and Katie Theisen (Sr., Elko, Minn.) shattered their own MIAC meet record, set in 2007, running 9:08.67 for the MIAC championship. The previous record was 9:17.39.

The 2007 MIAC champion in the 400 meter hurdles, Katie Theisen (Sr., Elko, Minn.) of St. Thomas ran an NCAA provisional time, and the season’s fastest in the MIAC, at 63.34. She will attempt to defend her title at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Kaelene Lundstrom (So., Bird Island, Minn.) broke the Tommies’ streak of victories, taking home the MIAC championship in the high jump, leaping 1.6 meters (5’ 3”) for the title. She edged out Tommie Alyssa Salomone (Jr., Lockport, Ill.).

In the 10000 meter run, the top three finishers set NCAA provisional times. The 2008 champion, Margot Branigan (So., Roseville, Minn.) of Saint Benedict, completed the race in 37:20.01 – an NCAA provisional time and the MIAC’s best time of the season.

Hailey Brenden (Fy., Rothsay, Minn.) of Concordia finished second at 37:32.03, while Karen Campbell (Jr., Rochester, N.Y.) finished third in 38:08.77, both NCAA provisional times.

Competition resumes on Saturday, May 10, at 4:00 p.m. at the Klas Center at Hamline University.

2008 MIAC Champions determined on day one:

3200 Meter Relay: St. Thomas (Betsy Hupp, Kelly Russ, Erin Sprangers, and

Katie Theisen) – 9:08.67

Discus: Shara Guidry, Sr., St. Thomas – 43.56 meters, 142’ 11”

            NCAA provisional

Hammer Throw: Carol Comp, Sr., St. Thomas – 48.92 meters, 160’ 6”

            NCAA provisional

Long Jump: Selina Dehn, Sr., St. Thomas – 5.39 meters, 17’ 8 ¼”

High Jump: Kaelene Lundstrom, So., Gustavus – 1.60 meters, 5’ 3”

10000 Meter Run: Margot Branigan, So., Saint Benedict - 37.20.01