11 MEET RECORDS FALL AS CARTHAGE WINS THIRD STRAIGHT COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP; MELISSA HARDEN OF ILLINOIS WESLEYAN WINS MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMER AWARD

A total of 11 meet records fell in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women's track & field indoor championship, which was held at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois on Saturday, March 1. Carthage, led by sprint standout Muffy Israel, won the team title with 173.5 points. It was the Lady Reds' third consecutive conference title in indoor track & field. Illinois Wesleyan, which had the meet's Most Outstanding Performer in freshman Melissa Harden, placed second with 132 points. Augustana was third with 104.5, North Central took fourth with 89 and Wheaton finished fifth with 59. Millikin (39), Elmhurst (36) and North Park (29) placed sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Israel won the 55 in :07.10 and the 200 in :25.20 and handled the leadoff leg on the victorious 1600 relay team that won in 3:54.28. Susanna Craven, Sheana Grigsby and Latrice Powell combined with Israel on the 1600 relay. All three of those times were new CCIW meet records.

Molly Morrison of North Central set new records in winning the 1500 (4:45.63) and 5000 (17:45.24) and then anchored the distance medley team to another record in a time of 12:35.10. Joining Morrison on the distance medley winning team were Christine Holl, Jane King and Diana Locasio.

The 800 relay team of Nicole Williams, Michelle Dionne, Gena Rawlins and Gianina Taylor from Illinois Wesleyan won with a new record of 1:42.32. Carthage's 3200 relay team of Lori Ray, Natalie Widaman, Brandi Heinz and Andrea Frey established a new record of 9:42.27.

Rawlins won the 400 in a new record of :56.54. In the pole vault Amy Peters of Elmhurst set a new mark with a winning clearance of 11' 7" while Angie Hawk of Millikin broke the record in the triple jump with a leap of 38' 1 ¼".

Taylor won the 800 in 2:20.69 and Grigsby took the 55 hurdles in :08.36. Molly May of Illinois Wesleyan took first in the high jump with a clearance of 5' 3" and Lucia Abel of North Park won the long jump with a leap of 17' 10 ¼". Ernesta McVeigh of Carthage won the shot with a toss of 38' 2 ¾" and teammate Tiffany Farrier won the 20 pound weight toss at 45' 9".

Harden did not win a single event but she placed second in three events: long jump (17' 6 ½"), triple jump (36' 11 ¾") and 55 hurdles (:08.48). She also placed sixth in the 55 for a total of 27 points.

TEAM SCORES: 1. Carthage 173.5; 2. Illinois Wesleyan 132; 3. Augustana 104.5; 4. North Central 89; 5. Wheaton 59; 6. Millikin 39; 7. Elmhurst 36; 8. North Park 29.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

55 - Muffy Israel, Carthage :07.10

200 - Muffy Israel, Carthage :25.20

400 - Gena Rawlins, Illinois Wesleyan :56.54

800 - Gianina Taylor, Illinois Wesleyan 2:20.69

1500 - Molly Morrison, North Central 4:45.63

5000 - Molly Morrison, North Central 17:45.24

55 Hurdles - Sheana Grigsby, Carthage :08.36

800 Relay - Illinois Wesleyan (Nicole Williams, Michelle Dionne, Gena Rawlins, Gianina Taylor) 1:42.32

1600 Relay - Carthage (Muffy Israel, Susanna Craven, Sheana Grigsby, Latrice Powell) 3:54.28

3200 Relay - Carthage (Lori Ray, Natalie Widaman, Brandi Heinz, Andrea Frey) 9:42.27

Distance Medley - North Central (Christine Holl, Jane King, Diana Locasio, Molly Morrison) 10:15.93

High Jump - Molly May, Illinois Wesleyan 5' 3"

Pole Vault - Amy Peters, Elmhurst 11' 7"

Long Jump - Lucia Abel, North Park 17' 10 ¼"

Triple Jump - Angie Hawk, Millikin 38' 1 ¼"

Shot - Ernesta McVeigh, Carthage 38' 2 ¾"

20 Pound Weight - Tiffany Farrier, Carthage 45' 9"

MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMER: Melissa Harden, Illinois Wesleyan

© 2003-04 CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin