The Aurora University women's track and field team competed at the Wheaton Invitational on Saturday, April 13th. The Spartans placed fifth out of 11 teams with a score of 83 points.

Deedee Colon Maldonado ran a new personal best of 4:32.09 in the 1500 meter run, placing first. This performance is a new school and Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference record, and currently ranks 10th in the nation. She currently leads the NACC by nine seconds.

Lauren Bliefernicht ran PBs in both of her individual events. She placed fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.31. This time is fourth in school history. She placed sixth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.25, which improves on the third best time in school history. She currently leads the NACC in both events. 

Mary Dietz placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles with a half-second PB of 15.49. This time is fourth in school history, and currently ranks third in the NACC.

N'dya Fields ran a ten-second personal record in the 1500 meter run, placing sixth. This performance is the sixth in school history. She also ran a personal record in the 5000 meter run, placing second with a time of 19:05.40.

Madison Etheridge placed second in the 400 meter dash, running a two-second PB of 1:00.89. This time is seventh in school history, and currently ranks second in the NACC.

Katheryn Rutherford cleared a height of 2.70 meters in pole vault. This mark is tenth in school history.

Abby Liesen placed first in the 5000 meter run with a time of 18:45.05. This is an outdoor personal record by 40 seconds.


Other scorers of the meet: 

4x100 meter relay (Skylar Gibbs, Bliefernicht, Grace Beilfuss, Dietz): 3rd - 49.40

Skylar Gibbs (100 meter hurdles): 5th - 15.46

Ari Mack (400 meter dash): 5th - 1:01.93 

Emma Jasutis (5000 meter run): 5th - 19:36.12

Silja Erickson (Shot Put, Discus): 5th - 12.33m, 7th - 37.42m

Faustyna Karpiesiuk (Triple Jump): 5th, 10.55m

Natalie Flores (5000 meter run): 7th - 20:39.96

Ashlyn Nakashima (Javelin): 7th - 30.57m

August Pautsch (5000 meter run): 8th - 20:58.76

 
Complete results can be found here.

 
Up next the Spartans compete at the Don Church Twilight meet hosted by Wheaton College on Saturday, April 20th.