2011 NCAC Indoor Track and Field Championships - Day One Results
2011 NCAC Indoor Track and Field Championships - Day Two Heat Sheets
OBERLIN, Ohio – Behind a dazzling array of personal and season bests, Allegheny women's track and field performed beyond expectations on the opening day of the 2011 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Gators currently sit second in the team standings and will have plenty of opportunities to cap a surprising showing on the final day of competition.
Junior Lauren Butler delivered the most impressive performance in a highlight-filled evening after setting a championship and field house record in the shot put. Her best throw in finals covered 13.16 meters, smashing her previous best while securing an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Butler's performance also eclipsed the school record which was set by Liz Earley in 2008. Freshman Tova Feinberg also factored high in the scoring, riding a personal-record toss (11.07m) en route to fourth overall.
Feinberg produced one of several standout performances by Allegheny's rookie talent as first-year Deedee Evans crushed her personal best in the triple jump (10.47m) to claim the individual conference title. Fellow freshman Kristina Martin weathered a slow pace in the 5000m en route to a third-place finish and All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. Martin crossed the finish line in 18:21.47, with senior Katie Stancik (18:39.38) and sophomore Kelly Gallagher (18:45.25) taking fifth and sixth, respectively.
Through five scored events the Gators have a 13.5-point lead over third-place Oberlin, which captured the league's cross country championship in the fall. Ohio Wesleyan holds a commanding spot at the top with 77.5 points while Allegheny has totaled 42.5.
The Blue and Gold will be fishing for additional highlights during tomorrow's action after netting numerous qualifying marks in Friday's prelim events. Senior Beth Muller authored a sensational effort in the 55m, posting the fastest time of the preliminary rounds while setting a personal record (7.53). Rebecca Lendyak (7.58) and freshman Dominique Billingslea (7.65) also set personal records in advancing to finals.
Two angles stand out in the Gators' qualifying efforts during trials: the fact that Muller and Lendyak powered their way though prelims in three different events (55m, 200m, 400m), and that Allegheny was able to snag the last qualifying spot in four different events. Billingslea nabbed the last spot in the 55m with Lendyak serving as the last qualifier in the 200m. Senior Emily Norton ran a season best to squeeze into finals in the 55m hurdles (9.34) while senior Stephanie Alberico unleashed a five-second PR in a stunning performance in the 800m (2:24.86).
