By Samantha Burmeister

March 9, 2010

Women’s track and field teams recently competed in the CCIW championships at North Central College on Feb. 27. 

On the women’s side, the ‘Jays earned 14 points for the sixth- place finish in the championships while also gaining individual achievements during the meet.

“We had numerous personal records,” said head women’s coach Erik Guta.  “[Senior] Erin Thomson broke her own school record three times in the meet in the weight throw to earn All-Conference. [Senior] Katlyn Bednarski earned

All-Conference in both the 5,000 and 3,000-meter runs. [Senior] Rebekah Clark also earned All-Conference in the 3,000.”

Bednarski finished fifth in the 3,000-meter with a time of 10:41.70.  She then placed sixth in the 5,000 with an 18:37.46. 

Clark placed eighth in the 3,000 meter with a time of 11:00.07. 

Guta mentioned how he has seen improvement in his team especially in Thomson. 

“She laced seventh after being seated 12th going into the meet. Over the past year she has improved by over 10 feet,” said Guta.

Freshman Lauren Williams’s mile time the ninth fasted in school history.

“[Junior] Tracy Brtis had personal records in both the 55-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash to move up on our top team list as well,” said Guta.

The men’s side finished the championships with a total of three points.  Despite the score, the men did have some personal achievements.

“I was really happy with how the CCIW championships went,” said head men’s coach Jim Akita.  “The team score might not show it, but we ran and competed very well. Our outstanding athlete was [Freshman] Rodney Payton who look fifth in long jump and earned all-conference honors.”

Payton recorded at 21-05.25 in the long jump, finishing in fifth place. 

The men’s distance relay team and the 4X400 relay team both finished in sixth place.

Despite the low score the ‘Jays had individual performances that did not go unnoticed. 

“We had great performance from our sprinters sophomores Jon Janus, Kurt
Kibler, and Mark D’Angelo, who all ran season bests and made our All-Time Top 10 lists,” said Akita.

Both teams will spend the next weeks working on individual needs and getting in shape before beginning their outdoor portion of the season at the Chicagoland Championships on April 10.

No ‘Jays on either the men’s or the women’s side will be participating in the NCAA championships on March 12-13.