Fantastic Four Crushes Competition At Ole Open
NORTHFIELD, Minn. (2/22/13)—So far the 2013 Concordia indoor track and field season has resembled the 2005 superhero movie "The Fantastic Four". The Cobber Fantastic Four of Morgan Christian, Chelsea Klemetson, Cherae Reeves and Hilary Thompson all posted event wins at the St. Olaf Open on Friday in the final competition before the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet.
All four athletes have won multiple times this season and all four are currently ranked in the top 3 in the MIAC and in the top 40 of the nation.
Christian, the lone track athlete among the Cobber Fantastic Four, won the 800 meters by over a full second. Christian has been Invisible Woman-like this season as she disappears into the pack during the race and then reappears at the finish line ahead of everyone else. Her finishing time on Friday in the 800 meters of 2:18.19 is a season best and is the fifth fastest in school history. She is currently seeded second in the MIAC headed into the conference meet. Christian is also the No.2 seed in the 600 meters.
Klemetson has regained her Miss Fantastic form from last year when she qualified for the NCAA National Meet. She won the high jump at the Ole Open with a height of 5-03.50. Klemetson is currently ranked second in the conference heading into the MIAC Meet with a season-best mark of 5-05.00. That height is also the 19th best in DIII this year.
Reeves, like Christian, has had a breakout season in 2013 and continues to do her "thing" in the shot put. She showed her strength by winning the event at the Ole Open with a distance of 44-09.00. That mark is a career best and the second farthest in school history. It also places her second in the conference and 12th among all Division III athletes. Reeves has now won two straight shot put competitions and has placed in the top 3 at all but one meet this season.
Thompson continues to "torch" the competition in the jumping events. On Friday she turned up the heat in the triple jump and won the event by over six inches. Thompson went 36-09.75 in the very final jump of the competition to record a season best and the second farthest mark in the conference this year. It is also puts her in the top 25 of the nation for the year. Thompson also finished third in the long jump at the Ole Open and is seeded third in that event heading into the MIAC Meet.
The Fantastic Four had several quality performances by their supporting cast. Kathryn Stalnaker and Kaari Jensen recorded top 3 finishes and both turned in career-best performances. Stalnaker ran a 10:56.73 in the 3000 meters and placed third. It is the first time in her career that she has broken the 11-minute mark. Jensen earned her "PR" in the 60-meter hurdles when she clocked a 9.39 in the preliminary heat. She did not compete in the finals of the event and used the Ole Open 56-meter hurdles to continue to prepare for the MIAC Heptathlon. Jensen was also second in the high jump with a finishing height of 5-01.50.
Concordia will hope to collect as many "Oscars" as possible when they compete at the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet on Friday, Mar. 1 and Saturday, Mar. 2 at St. Olaf.
COBBER NOTABLES
St. Olaf Indoor
St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
February 22, 2013
COBBER ALL-TIME TOP 10:
800 Meters – Morgan Christian – 2:18.19 – Top 10-#5
60 Hurdles – Kaari Jensen – 9.39 – Top 10-#3
Shot Put – Cherae Reeves – 44-9 (13.64m) – Top 10-#2
PERSONAL RECORDS:
800- Morgan Christian;
Mile- Christie Bunge;
3000- Kathryn Stalnaker;
60 Hurdles- Kaari Jensen;
Long Jump- Hannah Fordahl;
High Jump- Hannah Fordahl;
Pole Vault- Andie Baker;
Shot Put- Cherae Reeves, Hannah Fordahl, Anna Skow-Anderson, Ali Chudy.