St. Thomas Men & Women Sweep MIAC Indoor Meet

[Chris]

Men's Track scores 235, gets 24th MIAC title in row

quote:
http://tommiesports.com/mtf/news/20080307MIAC1.html

1st of 11
at MIAC Indoor, March 08, 2008

The St. Thomas men's track and field team won its 24th consecutive conference team crown Saturday in the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville. The Tommies made it 24-of-24 in all-time conference indoor titles, an MIAC all-sport record for consecutive team titles.

The Toms' 235.5 points were the second most in the 24-year history of the event. The 1993 Tommies, led by All-American Leonard Jones, set the scoring record with 247.5 points.

Senior P.J. Theisen anchored the winning 4x400 relay to cap UST's impressive weekend. Theisen also had four runner-up finishes (triple jump , 55 hurdles, 400 meters, long jump) to record 32 points. He now has scored 201 career individual points in his seven MIAC meets (indoors and outdoors). His runner-up 46-7 1-2 in the triple jump hit an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

Coach Steve Mathre's Tommies scored in 18 of 20 events with 26 different athletes contributing points. UST topped runner-up St. John's (114.5) by 121 points -- the biggest winning margin in 10 seasons. Hamline took third with 90.

The Tommies outscored St. John's in six events alone -- the 200 (four placewinners, 21.5 points); the long jump (four placewinners, 21 points; the 55 dash (four placewinners, 26 points); the weight throw (1-2 finish, 18); the triple jump (four placewinners, 17 points); and the 1000 (three placers, 19 points).

Joe DeFrance won the 200 (22.23) and ran on the winning 4x400 with James Ewer and Phil Bastron which clocked 3:21.96. Ewer, who won Friday's long jump and 55, was second in the 200 (22.49) and ran on the 4x400. The Toms also won the 4x200 relay and had a 1-2 finish in the 1000 with Neil Atzinger (2:33.48) and Kyle Brandon (2:34.34).

Other top-eight scorers on Saturday were Cameron Roemhildt, fourth in the high jump (6-2- 1-4) and seventh in the triple jump (43-5 3-4); Mark O'Connell, fifth in the shot put (47-3 1-2); Darnell Clark, fifth in the triple jump (43-10 1-2); Derek Marks, seventh in the shot put (46-3 1-2); Brian Pink and Joe Rohlfing (both 6-0 1-4 for seventh in the high jump); Brian Sames, seventh in the 600 (1:14.52); Sam Moen, sixth in the 200 (22.98); R.J. Strand, sixth in the triple jump (43-7); Mike Connell, seventh in the 3,000 (8:49.70); Matt Boumeester, eighth in the 3,000 (8:51.92); Evan Schwartz, eighth in the 1000; and Chris Bradford, eighth in the 200 (23.12).  

Click here for complete results:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp

Friday Story

The St. Thomas men's track and field team is halfway home in its bid for a 24th consecutive conference team championship. The Tommies had a dominant first-day performance Friday in the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville and will look to make it 24-of-24 in all-time conference indoor titles after Saturday's final events.

Led by junior James Ewer's victories in the long jump and 55 dash and senior P.J. Theisen's three runner-up performances, the Tommies have opened up a 70.5-point lead over second-place St. John's with 11 of 20 events completed.

Coach Steve Mathre's Tommies had no entrants in Thursday's heptathlon but scored 139 points in 10 Friday events. With nine events to go on Saturday, St. Thomas will chase their MIAC records for points scored (247.5, 1993) and margin of victory (134.5, 1991).

The Tommies outscored St. John's in four events alone -- the long jump (four placewinners, 21 points; the 55 dash (four placewinners, 26 points); the weight throw (1-2 finish, 18); and the pole vault (2-3 finish, 14).

Ewer hit an an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 55 dash of 6.34 and won the long jump in 22-8 1-2. Senior Derek Marks won the weight throw in 56-3 1-4; junior Brian Sames won the 800 in 1:54.68; and Neil Atzinger broke a meet and facility record in the mile with a winning time of 4:16.29.

Theisen placed a close second in three events to score 24 individual points and add to his remarkable MIAC-meet resume. He took second in the 55 hurdles in an NCAA provisional time of 7.70; was second by 1.5 inches to Ewer in the long jump; and was runner-up at 400 meters in 50.22. Theisen now has scored 195 individual points in seven career MIAC meets (indoors, outdoors).

Other Tommie runners-up were senior Mark O'Connell in the weight throw (55-5); sophomore Chris Victor in the pole vault (14-7 1-2); and sophomore Chris Bradford in the 55 dash (6.45).

Thirds were recorded by junior Ryan Blake in the pole vault (14-1 3-4); junior Kyle Brandon in the mile (4:17.47); junior Phil Bastron in the 400 (50.70); and junior Joe DeFrance in the 55 (6.46). UST also took second with a distance-medley relay team of sophomore Nick George, soph Joe Rohlfing, junior Greg Dowe and junior Matt Boumeester in 10:26.66.

Freshman Matt Griswold placed fifth in the 55 hurdles (7.96). Sophomore Sam Moen placed seventh in both the long jump (21-4) and 55 dash (6.55). Sophomore Thomas Hildebrand was eighth in the pole vault (13-7 3-4). Freshman Tom Memmen was eighth in the long jump (20-8); and junior Evan Schwartz was eighth in the mile (4:26.35).

Click here for complete results:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp

All-Time MIAC Men's Indoor Track Team Winners

Year/Winner/Points (Margin)
1985: UST, 180 pts. (won by 99)
1986: UST, 217 pts. (won by 134.5)
1987: UST, 134 pts. (won by 15)
1988: UST, 191.5 pts. (won by 88.5)
1989: UST, 208 pts. (won by 122)

1990: UST, 203.3 pts. (won by 110.3)
1991: UST, 216 pts. (won by 138.6)
1992: UST, 229 pts. (won by 110.5)
1993: UST, 247.5 pts. (won by 125.5)
1994: UST, 206.5 pts. (won by 105.5)
1995: UST, 179.5 pts. (won by 66.5)
1996: UST, 183.5 pts. (won by 73.5)
1997: UST, 187 pts. (won by 34)
1998: UST, 230 pts. (won by 127.5)
1999: UST, 185 pts. (won by 75.6)

2000: UST, 184 pts. (won by 75.5)
2001: UST, 158 pts. (won by 18)
2002: UST, 214 pts. (won by 81)
2003: UST, 182 pts. (won by 47.5)
2004: UST, 203.5 pts. (won by 77.5)
2005: UST, 191 pts. (won by 78)
2006: UST, 215 pts. (won by 112)
2007: UST, 205 pts, (won by 81)

2008: UST, 235.5 pts. (won by 121)

Current MIAC Consecutive Team Championships (won or shared)

(Minimum 2)

24, St. Thomas Men's Indoor Track, 1985-present

19, Gustavus Men

[Chris]

Women's Track wins MIAC indoor for ninth year in row

quote:
http://tommiesports.com/wtf/news/20080307Conference1.html

1st of 12
at MIAC Indoor Meet, March 08, 2008

Sophomore Nikki Arola had a hand in four victories to lead the St. Thomas women's track and field team to a runaway victory Saturday at the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville.

Coach Joe Sweeney's Tommies claimed the program's ninth consecutive MIAC indoor team championship. The Tommies had 12 firsts and scored in all 18 events they entered.

Arola won Saturday's 200 (25.42) after sweeping the 55 and 400 on Friday. She anchored the 4x400 to an improved NCAA provisional time of 3:57.61 that now ranks seventh in the nation. She was joined by Raynee DeGrio, Erin Sprangers and Katie Theisen.

Selina Dehn capped a sweep of the horizontal jumps as she won Saturday's triple jump in 37-0 1-2.

Sprangers, who was a close second in Friday's 800, won Saturday's 1000 in 2:55.45, a facility record. Carol Comps capped a swep of the throwing events as she won Saturday's shot put (42-2). UST also won the 800 relay.

(More)

Click here for complete results:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp

Friday Story

Sophomore Nikki Arola won the 55 and 400 dashes Friday to help the St. Thomas women's track and field team zoom to a 56-point lead at the halfway point of the MIAC Indoor Championships in Collegeville.

Coach Joe Sweeney's Tommies are looking to claim the program's ninth consecutive indoor team championship. With 11 of 20 events completed, the Tommies have 119 points and lead closest pursuers Concordia (63) and Bethel (52) in the 12-team field.

Arola won in a photo finish at 7.41 over Augsburg's Whitney Holman (same time), then won the 400 in 58.41, a time that improved her NCAA provisional qualifying standing.

Junior Katie Theisen won the 800 in a meet-record time of 2:15, just ahead of sophomore teammate Erin Sprangers (2:15.40). Senior Selina Dehn won the long jump (17-6 3-4). UST also had 1-2 finishes in the 55 hurdles with sophomore Laura Janas (8.63) and freshman Melissa Kuebler (8.71), and in the weight throw with seniors Carol Comp (52-5 1-4) and Shara Guidry (51-5 1-2).

Freshman Raynee DeGrio took third in the 800 (2:18.67); soph Kelly Russ placed third in the mile (5:09.60); and senior Julie Anderson was third in the 3,000 (18:30.82). Senior Kate Staat was fifth in the 55 dash (7.55). Sixths were scored by senior Anne Iddins in the 3,000 (18:43.52); Felisha Willaert in the weight throw (46-10 3-4); and Alyssa Salomone in the high jump (5-1 3-4). Jenna Ewing placed seventh in the 55 (7.61). Betsy Hupp took eighth in the 800 (2:25.83) and Dehn was eighth in the high jump (4-11 3-4).

Click here to access Friday results and Saturday heat sheets:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/mindoortrack/2007/itfchampionships.asp

[Chris]

Congrats Tommies!

[Steve]

Congratulations to St Thomas
--Well done Joe Sweeney and Steve Mathre

Congrats too to Fred Berg, for coaching the wins in both men's and women's vault
--of course, congratulations to Drew Hood and Shanna Dawson as well

[Caroline]

Unbelievable record on both sides!  Well done.