Bastiaens, Smock are All-Americans indoors

March 16, 2003
St. Thomas sent seven athletes to the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships, and all seven came home as an All-American with top-six finishes.

The two-day competition concluded Saturday in Greencastle, Ind., with the Wheaton (Mass.) women and Wisconsin-LaCrosse men claiming team championships.

The Tommie women scored 11 team points to tie for 13th place. Junior Karolien Bastiaens broke her own all-time MIAC best with a 12-4 3/4 height in the pole vault, good for third place and six team points. Her previous best was 12-0. Junior Teresa Smock placed fourth in the 800 in 2:15.63 to earn her first All-America honors and claim five team points.

The St. Thomas men's 4x400 relay placed fifth in a time of 3:18.38, scoring four team points with a time that broke its own all-time MIAC indoor 4x400 best. Andrew Hilliard, Carson Glad, Robert Ware and Jason Schwietz comprised the relay. (That group ran 3:16.79 earlier this season on a 300-meter track -- that converts to a 3:18.79 for a 200-meter oval.) The Tommies also got a tie for fifth in the high jump from Joe Thomas at a season-best 6-9 3/4, good for 3.5 points. UST's 7.5 points let it finish in 29th place.

The Gustavus men scored 23 points with just three athletes to place fourth. Senior Luke Speltz scored 16 points with runner-up placings in Saturday's shot put (55-10 1/2) and Friday's weight throw (61-1 1/4). Gustie seniors Ryan Hoag (6.46) and Jerry Washington (6.49) placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the 55 dash for seven more points.

Hamline senior Tom Kreger placed second in the 5,000 meters (14:36.63) to let the Pipers tie for 23rd place with eight points.

Three other MIAC men earned All-America honors -- Mathew Shannon of Augsburg placed fourth in the 400 meters (48.59); John Mathews of St. John's was fourth in the 1,500 (3:53.17); and Matt Hooley of Carleton was sixth in the 1,500 (3:54.20).

Besides the two Tommies, two other MIAC women were All-Americans. St. Olaf senior Megan Daymont was second in the 800 (2:11.81), and Augsburg freshman Tonnisha Bell was sixth in the 55 (7.16). Bell clocked 7.11 in the prelims.

NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships
Men's Team Leaders and MIAC teams

1, UW-LaCrosse 71; 2, UW-Oshkosh 34; 3. Nebraska Wesleyan 27; 4. Gustavus 23; 5. Coll. of New Jersey 22. Other MIAC: tie 23. Hamline 8; 29. St. Thomas 7.5; tie 36. Augsburg & St. John's 5; 45. Carleton 3.

MIAC Scorers (Top 8)
--Weight Throw: 2, Luke Speltz, Gustavus, 61-1 1/4.
--Shot Put: 2. Luke Speltz, Gustavus, 55-10 1/2.
--5,000: 2. Tom Kreger, Hamline, 14:36.63.
--55 Dash: 4. Ryan Hoag, Gustavus, 6.46; 7. Jerry Washington, Gustavus 6.49
--High Jump: tie 5. Joe Thomas, St. Thomas, 6-9 3/4.
--400 Meters: 4. Mathew Shannon, Augsburg, 48.59.
--1,500 Meters: 4. John Mathews, St. John's, 3:53.17; 6. Matt Hooley, Carleton, 3:54.20.
--4x400 Relay: 5. St. Thomas (Andrew Hilliard, Carson Glad, Robert Ware, Jason Schwietz) 3:18.38 (MIAC all-time best)

NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships
Women's Team Leaders and MIAC teams

1, Wheaton (Mass.) 54; 2. Lehman 48; 3. Williams 42; 4. UW-Oshkosh 41; 5. UW-LaCrosse 24. Other MIAC: tie 13. St. Thomas 11; tie 20. St. Olaf 8; tie 43. Augsburg 3.

MIAC Scorers (top 8 finishes)
--Pole Vault: 3. Karolien Bastiaens, St. Thomas, 12-4 3/4 (MIAC all-time best).
--800 Meters: 2. Megan Daymont, St. Olaf, 2:11.81; 4. Teresa Smock, St. Thomas, 2:15.63.
--55 Meters: 6. Tonnisha Bell, Augsburg, 7.16.

see complete results here