NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- The Carleton women’s track and field team placed third at the annual Meet of the Hearts. Leading the Knights was first-year Clare Franco (Brunswick, Maine), who won two races, including a school-record performance in the 600 meter dash. In her first two collegiate meets, Franco has broken two Carleton indoor track and field records.
Franco, who established a new Carleton standard in the 400 meter race last week, traversed the 600-meter course in 1:38.32, eclipsing Claire Shapleigh’s mark set during the 2003 racing season.
Franco added top honors in the 55 meter dash as she finished in 7.88 seconds to edge a pair of racers from Macalester for top honors in the heat and the event. She also placed second in the 200 meter dash.
The Knights had two other first-place showings at the meet.
The 1000 meter race featured Laura Roach (Lakeville, Minn./North) and Lindsey Nietmann (Kirkland, Wash./Juanita) pacing the field the entire way and crossing the line first and second respectively. Teammates Alison Smyth (Fy./Billings, Mont./West); Kaitlin Randolph (Fy./Drummond, Wis.) and Margare Engelhardt (So./Delano, Minn.) also had strong showings in the event.
Taylor Ffitch (Portland, Ore./St. Mary’s Academy) posted her second win in as many weeks, crossing the line in 5:18.60 in the mile run after out-racing a quartet of runners from Luther College. Nikki Reich (Jr./Appleton, Wis./North) and Shannon Mueller (Fy./Wheaton, Ill./North) also placed in the top 10.
Jill Merkle (Fy./Wayzata, Minn./Hopkins) and Amy Elson (Jr./Davis, Calif.) added second-place finishes in the 55 meter hurdles and triple jump respectively.
For the second consecutive week, Kelly Lovett (So./Portland, Ore./Lincoln) improved her personal best in the shot put, finishing third today with a distance of 11.14 meters (36’ 6.75”).
The Knights compete next on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the University of Minnesota Parents Day Open.
