Results

PELLA, Iowa - The Bethel University women's track and field team headed south for the weekend to compete in the Central College Invitational on the grounds of Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Despite windy conditions, several Royals finished high against some top tier competition.

Bethel's participation was marked by several strong performances, including a first place tie in the high jump by NCAA indoor track and field All-American Vanessa Moore (Sr., Grantsburg, Wis.). Moore tied two other Division I leapers at 1.60 meters (5 feet, 3 inches) for first place. Moore also finished in sixth place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.96 seconds, which was a little more than a quarter second ahead of seventh place finisher and teammate, Leah Jackson (Sr., Fridley, Minn.).

Moore and Jackson, along with Amy Neubauer (So., Rogers, Minn.) and Michaela Otto (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) comprised the 4 x 100 meter relay team that finished in fifth place with a time of 51.51 seconds. Neubauer went on to place fifth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:11.46 as well as 13th in the long jump with a distance of 4.82 meters (15 feet, 9.75 inches). Otto finished 16th in the same event with a leap of 4.71 meters (15 feet, 5.5 inches).

In the distance running events, 2008 NCAA All-American Marie Borner (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) earned an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 5000 meter run with a time of 17:22.35, which was less than three seconds behind a Division-II runner from the University of Minnesota Duluth, but more than a minute faster than next runner.

All-MIAC cross country runner, Heather Jelen (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), also garnered a second place finish in her event, which was the 3000 meter steeplechase. She finished with a time of 11:50.00.

Next up for the Royals is the Lee Krough Invitational, scheduled for next Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.