Ellingson wins 1500 at conference championships

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Catie Ellingson won the eighth conference title of her illustrious career to lead the Simpson women's track and field team on the final day of the 2012 Iowa Conference Championships on Saturday.

The Storm placed seventh of nine teams, scoring 33 points. Wartburg won the meet with a conference-record 353.

A senior from Indianola, Iowa, Ellingson won the 1500-meter run going away in 4:29.98. The conference title is the eighth of her career and second in the 1500, as she added medalist honors at the 2010 meet. She also placed fourth in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:15.74.

Injured for the entire 2011 outdoor season, Ellingson currently ranks fourth in the nation in the 1500 with her 4:27.91 run at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on April 19.

After posting the fourth-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdle preliminaries yesterday, freshman Bayley Fleshner held her position on Saturday, taking fourth in 14.67. She also placed seventh in the long jump (16-9 3/4).

Sammy Nelson added a seventh-place effort in the 400 hurdles, breaking the tape in 1:07.55.

The Storm were without the services of mulit-athlete Kinsey Bak, who couldn't compete due to a hamstring injury.