CSB and SJU track and field teams take on the MIAC

Both the CSB and SJU track and field teams competed in the MIAC Indoor conference championships last weekend. Both teams finished in the top half of the conference, as CSB took fifth place and the Johnnies took second, out of 12 and 11 teams, respectively. Sixteen Bennie and 18 Johnnie athletes earned All-MIAC distinctions, placing third place or better in their respective events or relays.

SJU senior sprinter Kevin Arthur finished third in the 60-meter dash, fifth in the 200-meter dash and was a part of the 4×200 relay team that took third overall. Arthur gave praise to many of his teammates for their great performances. This included a win from Joe Charbonneau in the pole vault, a win from Zach Schaffer in the long jump, third place finishes from Lloyd Young and Carter Grove in the 3k and 5k, respectively. Heptathletes Max Lewica and Anthony Thurk took second and fourth place respectively in the heptathlon. The Bennies had strong performances as well that contributed to their fifth place finish.

“I am so proud of the way this team competed this weekend,” CSB head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue said. “The team scored 27 points more than they were seeded to score in the meet. They walked away with many personal bests, top-eight performances, All-MIAC performances, school records and a few fieldhouse and MIAC records. They had a great weekend.”

Junior Fiona Smith won the 3000-meter and 5000-meter runs, and anchored the distance medley relay team to a first-place finish as well.

“Finishing with a first-place relay was super special. The individual titles were definitely exciting, but sharing a first-place finish with a relay team is something different and extra special to have with the other three girls,” Smith said.

Charbonneau recorded a personal best mark to win the pole vault at the championships with a height of 4.91 meters (16’1”).

“I am proud of how the team performed this past weekend at the conference meet,” Charbonneau said. “Although we fell short in taking home the conference title, we exceeded the expectations as to how many points we would score. Looking toward the outdoor season I am most looking forward to hopefully reclaiming the title of conference champions and watching my teammates break their personal records.”

Standout first-year sprinter Lauren Berg had an impressive MIAC debut, as she placed second in the 60-meter hurdles, third in the 400-meter dash and second in the 600-meter run while also setting a new school record.

“I am really excited to start training for events like the 400m hurdles that are only offered during the outdoor season. I am also excited to keep the energy that our team had during indoor conference going into outdoor conference,” Berg said.

This meet capped off the indoor season for both teams; however, Smith and Charbonneau will compete at the NCAA indoor nationals, held in Birmingham, Ala., March 9 through March 11, before going on to their outdoor season. Both CSB and SJU teams kick off their outdoor season on April 1, as they travel to St. Paul to compete in the Hamline Invitational, pending weather.