Saturday, January 24, 2009

Laura Rolf (Rochester, Mich./Lutheran Northwest) won the 3,000m run for the second straight week and also posted a runner-up showing in the mile run to lead the Valparaiso women’s track and field squad as it competed Saturday at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Rolf, who was named the Horizon League Women’s Track Athlete of the Week last week, earned her second consecutive victory in the 3K by running nearly the same time as she did last Friday.  The senior crossed the line in 9:50.56, less than a second faster than her time last week and good for a victory on Saturday by over 27 seconds.  She also came home second in the mile run and was the top collegiate finisher, completing the race in 5:01.43.

Other Crusader distance runners also had solid meets on Saturday.  Alyssa Bradford (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) ran to a seventh-place finish in the 800m run with a time of 2:25.44, while Sara Christensen (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) placed eighth in the 3,000m run, crossing the line in 11:07.99.

In the sprints, Amanda Body (Harlan, Ky./Harlan) registered a pair of top-ten finishes, including a runner-up showing in the 200m dash with a time of 26.00 seconds.  The senior also finished sixth in the 60m dash, completing the race in 7.97 seconds.  Natalie McCorriston (Lansdowne, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara) led the Valpo effort on the infield with a toss of 33’1 ¾” in the shot put, good for ninth place.