[Track & Field] Mustangs bring home four titles from MCC Indoor Championships

STERLING, Ill. -- The Mount Mercy women won three events, including a pair of championships by junior Jacqueline Kane, and the Mustang men claimed a relay title at Saturday's Midwest Collegiate Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"It was a great meet for us," said Head Coach Jamie Jimison. "We came away with four event wins and four school records. Everyone did as much as they could to help the team win, and their effort and character represented Mount Mercy exceptionally well."

Kane set a meet and school record while winning the 600 meter run with an NAIA "B" qualifying time of 1:37.84. She also won the 400 meter dash in 1:00.48, which ranks second in school history. Kane had qualified for nationals in both events already this season. Sophomore Jenna Higgins earned the 200 meter dash crown with a school-record time of :26.52. She nearly had a second title, finishing second in the 55 meter dash in :07.36.

Mount Mercy was runner-up in four more events. Senior Beth Ripperger hit an NAIA automatic qualifying standard and set a school record with a second-place performance in the mile run in 5:11.37. She ran the fifth-fastest 3,000 meters in school history while coming in second in 11:05.24. Sophomore Larissa Wilden was runner-up in the high jump (4'-11 3/4"), senior Kelsey Hansen was second in the weight throw (49'-9 3/4").

The men's distance medley relay team of senior Matt Clarke, freshmen Grant Wakefield and David Carbajal, and senior Jayson Lawton set a meet record while bringing home the MCC indoor championship with the sixth-fastest time in school history (11:16.75). Junior Mike Miroux set a school record in a runner-up finish in the mile run (4:37.52). Freshman TJ Mosbach was a top-five finisher in two events, running second in the 3,000 meter run (9:24.80) and fourth in the mile (4:39.76).

Grand View won its third straight indoor championship with 200 points. St. Ambrose was second with 160.5, followed by Mount Mercy (119.5), Ashford (115), Clarke (77), Iowa Wesleyan (5), and William Penn (3).

Grand View also claimed the men's team title with 193.5 points. Runner-up was St. Ambrose (167), then it went Ashford (127), William Penn (125), Mount Mercy (43), and Clarke (37.5).