The Wildcat track & field team got the MIAC Championship off to a good start, qualifying for finals in four events and setting one school record on Friday.  Sam Levercom set a new St. Kate's mark in the 200m dash, and also qualified for the 100m final, to pace the Wildcats on day one.  

In her final collegiate meet, Levercom left her mark on the record book with a time of 26.34.  Even with the personal best clocking, Levercom finished in 10th place in an incredibly strong 200m field, just missing the finals.  Levercom did make the finals in the 100m dash, running 12.68, just off her season best and fast enough to nab the eighth qualifying spot.  Levercom also anchored the 4x100m relay to a spot in the finals.  She teamed up with Holly Staples, Madelin Skaalrud, and Christina Ramsdell to earn the 7th qualifying spot.  The quartet ran 50.31, their fastest time of the season.  

Ailee Larson took the easy route into the finals, placing second in her heat and earning an automatic qualifying spot in Saturday's 800m final.  Larson ran her fastest time of the season, finishing in 2:18.76.  Erin Coughlin also made it through to Saturday's final in the 400m dash, running 60.83 in very windy conditions to nab the eighth qualifying position.  

Kalyse Engebretson moved up from her seed and placed 11th overall, running a personal best time of 61.49 even in the gusting winds.  Also moving up from her seed and posting a new PR was Madelin Skaalrud in the 100m, running 12.76 and placing 10th.  Kelsey Eder ran a new PR in the 400m hurdles, covering the 10 barriers in 1:07.45.  While her time was good for #2 all-time at St. Kate's, she just missed finals, placing ninth overall in a fast field.  

Both Kristina Poss and Ariel Johnson set new PR's and moved up the top ten lists, running the 10,000m run.  Poss knocked nearly 90 seconds off her PR, moving to #4 all-time, running 40:04.95 and placing 15th.  Johnson moved to #6 all-time, running 40:30.65 and placing 17th.  

The 4x800m relay team ended the day on the track, and with a team of three first-years and one sophomore, moved up to #5 all-time at St. Kate's and breaking the 10 minute barrier.  Their time of 9:54.78 was good for ninth overall.  

Amanda Grundhofer led the way for the Wildcats in the field events.  Grundhofer tossed a new PR in the hammer throw, with a mark of 41.75m (136-11).  Her throw was good for 11th overall in just her first season competing in the event.  

The Wildcats will have a busy day two with so many athletes through to finals, and with the bulk of their field event competitors competing on Saturday, as well as the steeplechase, 5000m, and 4x400 finals.  

Results