Gustavus Adolphus College

The 2009 MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships are being held at Carleton College.

Lisa Brown looks to become a four-time conference champion in the javelin.

Sam Broderius is a threat to win titles in discus, shot put, and hammer throw.

Aryn Bell set a school record in the 100-meter hurdles last weekend and has the top MIAC time in the event.

The Gustavus women’s track and field team will take participate in the MIAC Outdoor Championships this Friday and Saturday at Carleton College. The Gusties finished second at the outdoor meet a year ago and placed second at the indoor championships in March. Coach Tom Thorkelson’s squad will attempt to use its talent and depth to sneak past St. Thomas into the top spot this year. The meet begins at 2:00 pm on Friday and then on Saturday, events begin at 1:00 pm.

The Gustavus Adolphus women’s outdoor track and field team is poised to challenge for the 2009 MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship title with one of the strongest contingents fielded by Coach Tom Thorkelson. The question is whether its depth in field events paired with key results in track events will be enough to overtake St. Thomas.

Senior Lisa Brown (Lake Crystal, Minn.) will lead the Gusties as the two-time NCAA javelin champion looks to finish her career as a four-time conference champion in the event. Brown, who ranks second in Division III in the javelin (161-0), has emerged as one of the premier all-around throwers in the conference as she is seeded second in the shot put (43-4 ½) and fifth in the discus (125-10). Junior Kaelene Lundstrum (Bird Island, Minn.) will travel to Northfield to defend her title in the high jump, an event in which she is seeded first at 5-6 1/2. Lundstrum is also expected to challenge for championships in several other events, including the heptathlon, the 100 hurdles, and the shot put, all of which she ranks in the top five in the conference. Sophomore Sam Broderius (Hector, Minn.), who has improved her marks each week, is a threat to win three throwing events as she is seeded first in the shot put (45-3 ¾) and the discus (144-8) and fourth in the hammer throw (144-3). Juniors Diana Scott (Bristol, Conn.) and Anna Bauer (Hastings, Minn.) provide additional depth in the throwing events as they are seeded third (145-11) and seventh (142-6), respectively, in the hammer throw.

Gustavus will also contend for event titles in three other field events and one track event. Sophomore Janey Helland (Mapleton, Minn.) has recorded the top conference mark in the long jump with a distance of 17-9 and is also seeded seventh in the 400 hurdles (68.13). Returning all-conference hurdler senior Aryn Bell (Eden Prairie, Minn.) is ranked first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.62. Junior pole vaulter Meredith Halling (Rochester, Minn.) and senior triple jumper Laura Lynch will vie for championships are seeded second (10-8) and third (35-9 1/4), respectively.

Other athletes ranked in the top eight on the MIAC Performance list are sophomore Brooke Beskau (Hastings, Minn.), who is fifth in the 10,000 meters (38:54.94), senior Elizabeth Pringle (Northfield, Minn.), who is fifth in the 400 meters (59.29), sophomore Megan Lundgren (Mankato, Minn.), who is fifth in the long jump (16-11 1/4) and sophomore Laura Secor (Stillwater, Minn.), who is sixth in the 400 hurdles (67.26).

MIAC Championships Website