After losing its two-year stranglehold on the NCAA Division III National Indoor Track and Field crown last season, the Wartburg women reclaimed the coveted trophy in 2012.
The Knights piled up 99 points to easily win the meet, which concluded Saturday at Grinnell College’s Charles Benson Bear ’39 Recreation and Athletic Center Field House. Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which won last year’s title, was a distant second with 48 points and Washington University took third with 30.
Wartburg won three titles Saturday, including the 4x400-meter relay to finish off the meet. Skye Morrison, Faith Burt, Kendra Kregel and Nevada Morrison teamed up to win the race in 3:45.66.
Nevada Morrison added a win in the 400 in 55.80, while Laura Sigmund took first in the 5000 with a time of 17:01.82.
Like Nevada Morrison, Christy Cazzola of Wisconsin-Oshkosh was also a double winner Saturday by claiming the 800 and mile in 2:13.40 and 4:51.99, respectively.
Other champs Saturday included Methodist’s Ashlynn Chavis in the 60 (7.54), Birmingham-South’s Tiarra Goode in the 60 hurdles (8.56), Illinois College’s Melissa Norville in the triple jump (12.58 meters/41-3 ¼) and Salisbury’s Chelsea Tavik in the shot put (14.29 meters/46-10 ¾).
In the men’s division, two was nice but three is even better for North Central College.
The Cardinals claimed their third NCAA Division III Indoor championship in a row Saturday. They scored 48 points to work past Wisconsin-Eau Claire, which had 37. Third place went to Wisconsin-Oshkosh with 32.
North Central won two event titles Saturday, including the 4x400-meter relay to conclude the day. Bai Kabba, Mustapha Olaoye, Dionte Hackler and Dan Benton teamed up to win in 3:16.11. Benton also won the 400 in 48.01.
There was one meet record set Saturday, that by David Pless of Bates in the shot put. His toss of 18.45 meters (60-6 ½) broke the mark of 18.21 meters set by Aaron Banks of Concordia-Moorhead in 1996.
Other champs Saturday were Colby’s Dominique Kone in the 60 (6.75), St. Thomas’ Mike Hutton in the 800 (1:52.26), Wabash’s Kevin McCarthy in the mile (4:08.93), Wisconsin-Stout’s Tim Nelson in the 5000 (14:11.80), Washington University’s Tyler Jackson in the 60 hurdles (7.93), Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Zach Mixdorf in the high jump (2.11 meters/6-11), Wisconsin-River Falls’ Mike Sandle in the triple jump (15.39 meters/50-6) and Christopher Newport’s Richard Roethel in the heptathlon (5434 points).
