Results
Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire indoor track and field teams got the 2012 season off to a good start on Saturday during the Knox College Invitational.
The women’s and men’s teams went up against Iowa Wesleyan and tallied 11 1st place finishes in the unscored meet. Co-head coach Jason Haynes was pleased with what he saw out of the Prairie Fire.
“In my time here, I’ve never seen Knox teams start the season so strong,” Haynes said. “The student-athletes have worked hard enough that the teams are completely different, even though the rosters are basically the same as last year.”
Haynes pointed out that sophomore Matt Brongo (Eureka, IL, Eureka) was just two seconds off his Knox career best time set last season. Senior Kevin Box (Naperville, IL, Naperville North) was one second off of the school record in the indoor mile.
For the women's squad, Haynes was impressed with the 4x200 relay team. He believes the foursome of junior Rayann Parkinson (Aledo, IL, Aledo), senior Kristi Weller (Cullom, IL, Tri-Point), sophomore Danielle Erikson (Mokena, IL, Lincoln-Way East), and junior Sara Brown (Homer Glen, IL, Lockport) can contend for all-conference this season.
The result of all the positives that happened during the season-opening meet, said Haynes, "is a testament to all of the hard work everyone put in during the offseason."
The indoor track and field teams head west on U.S. Route 34 to Monmouth on January 21 to participate in the Midwest Invitational. The events begin at 10:00 a.m.
Prairie Fire 1st Place Finishes
Kristi Weller, Women's 55 meter dash (7.94)
Emma Swanson, Women's 800 meter run (2:43.61)
Emma Swanson, Women's 1 mile run (5:58.47)
Women's 4x200 meter relay (1:58.61)
Catie McLaughlin, Women's shot put (32-10.50)
Catie McLaughlin, Women's weight throw (36-05.75)
Matt Brongo, Men's 800 meter run (2:02.89)
Kevin Box, Men's 1 mile run (4:36.58)
Gabe Moreno, Men's 3000 meter run (9:23.75)
Men's 4x400 meter relay (3:39.58)
Tony Sickley, Men's weight throw (41-05.25)
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