Washington University Women Finish Third at NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Washington University Women Finish Third at NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

From Washington University Athletics

Washington University in St. Louis women concluded the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships with a trophy finish placing third overall after Saturday afternoon's events at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The WashU women totaled nine All-American finishes to score 38 points and earn their fourth consecutive top-four finish. 

Saturday's Events

Women's Triple Jump

Junior Heidi Nassos earned her second All-American honor at the 2018 outdoor nationals by placing eighth in the triple jump after earning a runner-up finish in pole vault on Thursday. Her final triple jump mark of 11.69m matched her best distance from the first heat and was used as a tie breaker to earn an All-American honor. Nassos is just the second women's All-American triple jumper in WashU history.

Women's Steeplechase

Senior Alison Lindsay held a steady pace for much of the steeplechase before closing out the final lap for a personal-best time of 10:25.65 to place fifth. Lindsay earned her third consecutive All-American finish in the steeplechase, while concluding her career having competed in 12 of 12 national championships ranging from cross country to indoor and outdoor track & field. The nine-time All-American assisted in 10 trophy finishes including two national championships.

 

Women's 800m

Senior Annalise Wagner earned her third straight All-American honor during outdoor nationals with a third place finish in the 800m dash. She ran at a similar pace to her school record time which she set earlier this season, crossing the finish line in 2:07.86, posting just the second time under 2:08 in school history. Wagner finished more than two seconds ahead of the fourth place finisher as she battled with Macalester's Phoebe Aguiar for the runner-up finish.

Women's 5,000m

Senior Aly Wayne and sophomore Paige Lawler had a second pair of All-American finishes of the weekend. The distance duo placed fifth and seventh respectively in the 5,000m run battling through the heat while working with each other to pass runners as a tandem. Wayne saved her two fastest laps for the conclusion of the race to finish in 17:14.33, while Lawler crossed the finish line in 17:18.59. After missing all of the 2017 outdoor season, Wayne reclaimed All-American status in the 5,000m run previously placing eighth in 2016.

Women's 4x400m Relay

The WashU women's 4x400m relay converted the seventh All-American finish in the Bears seven events competed in at nationals when the group of sophomore Nicky Althoff, freshman Sophie Grigaux, sophomore Sara Mesiano and Wagner recorded a time of 3:49.48. The relay team nearly matched its prelims time from Thursday which would have duplicated a season-best time. The 1,600m relay All-American finish is the fifth in school history.

All-American Finishes

Nicky Althoff – 4x400m Relay (seventh, 3:49.48)

Sophie Grigaux – 4x400m Relay (seventh, 3:49.48)

Paige Lawler – 10,000m (third, 35:58.38), 5,000m (seventh, 17:18.59)

Alison Lindsay – Steeplechase (fifth, 10:25.65)

Sara Mesiano – 4x400m Relay (seventh, 3:49.48)

Heidi Nassos – Pole Vault (second, 3.80m), Triple Jump (eighth, 11.69m)

Annalise Wagner – 800m (third, 2:07.86), 4x400m Relay (seventh, 3:49.48)

Aly Wayne – 10,000m (fourth, 36:02.84), 5,000m (fifth, 17:14.33)