Contact: Heather Benning, Executive Director, benningh@midwestconference.org

GRINNELL, IOWA - It’s six and counting for St. Norbert College. The Green Knights women’s indoor track and field team claimed the 2020 Midwest Conference title in dominate fashion, accumulating a league-best 183 points and finishing the two-day event nearly 60 points ahead of second-place Monmouth (123.50). It was Ripon taking third (103.50), followed by Grinnell in fourth (93). Rounding out the scoring were Illinois College (62), Beloit College (53), Lake Forest (39), Cornell College (29), Lawrence University (10) and Knox College (3).
 
St. Norbert’s Don Augustine was named the 2020 MWC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, while first year Green Knight, Daijah Brown, was selected by the league coaches as the Outstanding Newcomer. Brown placed second in the 400m dash, eighth in the 200m dash, was a member of the second place 4x200 team and championship sprint medley quartet.
 
The Outstanding Track Athlete honor went to senior Andrea Hyde of Illinois College. Hyde won the 60m dash and 200m dash, while combining with teammates for a third-place finish in the 4x200. It was junior Eva Laun-Smith of Beloit who was named Outstanding Field Athlete after taking gold in the 60m hurdles and long jump and claiming silver in the triple jump.
 
Monmouth senior Aleeka Gentzler defended her title in the high jump by clearing 1.58m, while St. Norbert impressively 2, 3, 4 behind the efforts of Lauren Rottier (so.), Emmy Larson (sr.) and Sydney Spaeth (fr.), respectively.
 
In the weight throw, it was 2019 champion Agne Luoseviciute of Grinnell defending her title with a winning toss of 18.37m. Hannah McVey of Monmouth was second (15.43m) and Elizabeth Bowns of Illinois College was third (15.01m).
 
Ripon senior Callista DeCramer claimed her first solo title of the weekend with a leap of 11.41m in the triple jump, while the 2020 long jump champion and defending triple jump champion Laun-Smith of Beloit took silver (11.33m). Finishing in third was fellow Beloit Buccaneer Lena Ramsey (11.10m).
 
The Grinnell Pioneers ran to a first-place finish in the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 12:48.55. Competitors include Emma Schaefer, Mia Kauffman, Tori LaVerdiere and Mikayla Fujiwara. It was the Red Hawks of Ripon claiming silver (12:53.58) behind the efforts of Grace Engebretson, Maya Petersen, Makaila Weddle and Madison King. Bronze went to Madeline Morland, Lauren Giurini, Audrey Paglia and Anna Mollnhuber of Lake Forest.
 
Laun-Smith defended her 2019 title in the 60m Hurdles, besting the field with a time of 9.04. DeCramer took silver (9.26) and senior Vanessa Caldwell of Monmouth took bronze (9.35). In the 60m dash, it was senior Andrea Hyde of Illinois College setting a new Midwest Conference record (7.65) to earn top podium honors. Defending champion Audrey Makope of St. Norbert finished second (7.82) and Cindy Ladner of Monmouth was third (7.83).
 
St. Norbert College senior Maddie LeBrun, also a member of the gold medal sprint medley team, 400 with a time of 57.34. First year teammate Daijah Brown was second (58.52) while Monmouth sophomore Jordan Peckham was third (1:00.15).
 
Joyana Tarsa, the 2020 MWC 1-mile champion, outpaced the field on Day Two to earn yet another title in the 800m. Tarsa finished in 2:20.57, and teammate Kelly Gardipee was third (2:22.63). Placing second (2:21.59) was Yaneli Guajardo of Lake Forest College.
 
Hyde (Illinois College) earned her second solo crown of the day when she sprinted to a first-place finish (25.86) in the 200m dash. LeBrun was second (25.89), while junior Kenzie Baker of Monmouth was third (26.10). Defending champion Guajardo won the 3000 in a time of 10:32.80, followed by Fujiwara (10:35.55) and King (10:38.87).
           
In the final event of the day, it was Ripon College taking gold in the 4x400. Emma Karpinski, Camrie Schmitz, Briana Bartz and DeCramer combined for a 4:05.06. Monmouth finished second (4:05.74) and St. Norbert was third (4:08.12).
 
Each year the Midwest Conference recognizes the student-athlete, with the highest cumulative grade point average, participating in their respective sport’s culminating championship or tournament event with the Elite 20 Award. The recipient of the Elite 20 award for the 2020 MWC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship is Maya Peterson of Ripon College. Petersen is a senior chemistry and Spanish double major who competing in the 60m hurdles and long jump, as well as the 400m dash and sprint medley relay.