LoVan’s big vault highlights Storm women’s first day at the IIAC Championships
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Audrey LoVan had a career-day in the pole vault as the Simpson women's track team scored in three events on the first day of the 2017 Iowa Conference Championships on Friday.
LoVan turned in the top individual effort on the day as the Storm sit in seventh place with eight points. Nebraska Wesleyan leads the team standings with 68 points, followed by Wartburg (52) and Loras (51).
A junior, LoVan cleared 9-feet, 8 1/2 inches (2.96 meters) to tie for fifth, giving her a new career-best in the event. The effort is the second-best in school history and best by a Storm vaulter since 2006. Her previous best on the season was 2.75 meters and her old indoor career mark was 2.86.
Simpson also scored in the distance medley relay and the 4x200 relay. The DMR team of Courtney Neuendorf, Jaycie Owens, Jessica Lamb and Sadie Timms placed sixth in 13:00.28 and the 4x200 relay team of LoVan, Keeghan Corcoran, Rebecca Jensen and Jessica Gronke came in seventh in 1:55.20.
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
9 a.m. — Heptathlon resumes
10 a.m. — Field events begin
1 p.m. — Running events begin
TOP FINISHERS
55 meters
19. Rebecca Jensen, 7.87
5,000 meters
13. Briana McCloskey, 19:03.41
55 hurdles
12. Rebecca Jensen, 9.44
4x200 relay
7. LoVan, Corcoran, Jensen, Gronke, 1:55.20
Distance medley relay
6. Neuendorf, Owens, Lamb, Timms, 13:00.28
Pole vault
5. Audrey LoVan, 9-8 1/2 (#2 at Simpson)
Long jump
19. Sarah Sandage, 12-10
Shot put
10. Alex Niemier, 39-1 1/4
