NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- St. Scholastica track and field continued their seasonal residence in Northfield to put the finishing touches on their preparations for the MIAC championships next weekend. Bethel, Carleton, Hamline, Macalester, Martin Luther, St. Kates, and host school St. Olaf were all in attendance with a final shot at conference championship qualifying marks.
 
Leading the Saints on the track again was captain Regan Niemi (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS). After a patient first lap to see how the field unraveled, Niemi clicked into flow state and found the lead early. Pulling away from the field with each passing lap, Niemi was left to race against the clock for the final stages. Niemi broke the tape in a new personal best time of 5:13.30. This is the second fastest time clocked in school history. 
 
For the second week in a row, fellow captain Kayla Nelson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) found another personal best effort in the 400m dash. Nelson fought the competitors in her heat to the line in 1:02.13 to place seventh overall in the meet.
 
Liliana Hoard (Elk River, MN/Elk River High School) got a taste of the action with a seventh place finish in the 800m with a time of 2:29.36.
 
In the long jump, Shayna Wick (Poplar, WI/Northwestern High School) soared to a personal best mark of 5.20m. This distance is the third farthest leap in St. Scholastica history.
 
Jillian Bilben (International Falls, MN/Falls High School) led a trio of Saints triple jumpers into finals on Saturday. Bilben finished with a personal best bound of 10.09m to place seventh overall. 
 
With regular season competition now wrapped up for the indoor season, the team looks ahead towards the MIAC championships at Carleton College on February 27th and 28th. Stay tuned for updates on the event throughout the week.