Results

Jacksonville, IL – A school record fell at the Illinois College True Blue Open on Saturday.

The weather was not good and ultimately cut the meet short.  That didn’t stop senior Emma Swanson (West Des Moines, IA, Valley) from setting a new all-time mark in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

Swanson finished the race in 12:47.31, which broke the previous women’s record of 12:57.51 in the event set in 2004 by Ellie Dust.

The Prairie Fire women’s team also got a strong performance from the 4x100 meter relay team.  Swanson, fellow seniors Rayann Parkinson (Aledo, IL, Aledo) and Kristi Weller (Cullom, IL, Tri-Point), and sophomore Danielle Erikson (Mokena, Illinois, Lincoln-Way East) placed third in the event.

Sophomore Gabe Moreno (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) finished first for Knox in the 10000 meter run. His time of 33:30.10 is the 10th fastest in the 10K since record-keeping began in 1970.  Moreno also holds the fifth fastest time in the event (33:08.54), which he established last April at Western Illinois University.

Placing second behind Moreno in the 10K race was junior Jacob Buddell (Lake Bluff, IL, Lake Forest), who earned eight points for the Prairie Fire.

The Knox women placed sixth out of 13 teams with 18 points after nine events scored when the meet was called off.  The Knox men’s team placed sixth out of 12 teams with 25 points after eight events.

The Prairie Fire hopes for more cooperative weather on Saturday, May 5 when the teams take part in the Fighting Scot Invite.  The meet is the final regular season tune-up before the Midwest Conference Championships on May 11 and 12 at St. Norbert College.

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