May 10, 2005

Nate Carlson dominated the 1500 meters with nearly five seconds of cushion and Chelsi Claussen won the 400 meter hurdles championship as the Saints took seventh among the men and eighth among the women at the 2005 GNAC Track & Field Championship Meet in Ellensburg on Saturday.

Despite windy conditions, Carlson ran the 1500 in 3:53.82 to set a new GNAC Meet record.  "The whole pack was together at 2:09 for the first half-mile," reported Saints coach Brad Hooper, "then Nate unleashed a two-minute half-mile to destroy the field by almost five seconds.  He was a man among boys." 

Carlson also earned all-conference honors in the 800 meters (6) and as a member of the Saints 4x400 meter relay (6).

Claussen ran the 400 meter hurdles in 1:04.36 to take the GNAC title in that event.  That mark is just 1.06 seconds off the provisional national qualifying time.  Claussen also earned all-conference honors in the 100 meters finishing third and setting a new SMC record (12.4) and on the 4x400 meter relay team which took sixth.   

Qualified athletes for the Saints will compete at the Ken Foreman Invitational on May 14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle.  All-conference athletes for the Saints are listed below:

Chelsi Claussen (400m Hurdles, 100m, 4x400 relay)
Nate Carlson  (1500m, 800m, 4x400 relay)
Andy Prentice  (800m, 4x400 relay)
Seth Woods (3000m Steeplechase)
Lakita Burr  (400m hurdles, 4x400 relay)
Kaleigh Bishop (4x400 relay)
Ann McCanick  (3000m Steeplechase, 4x400 Relay)
Tyler Mohoric (4x400 relay)
Caleb Timmer (4x400 Relay)
Josh Timmer (Long Jump)

Mark McGreevy, Sports Information Director
Email contact: SMC Athletics
(360) 438-4328