Nation’s top performers lace up for 2013

After redshirting her 2011 season at Grand Valley State, junior long sprinter Leiah Hess proved to be one of the defending champion Lakers’ most crucial pieces in the 4×400 relay and distance medley. Winning its second national title in as many seasons, Grand Valley State finished third overall in the 4×400 relay and took top honors in the distance medley.

As a sophomore in 2012, Central Missouri’s Erin Alewine solidified herself as an elite athlete among the nation’s ranks. Also one of the most versatile performers in the country, Alewine looks to build on a successful campaign from a year ago. She paced the Jennies in last season’s championships as she placed ninth or better in seven different events. She came in second place and set a record with a score of 4,134 in the indoor pentathlon. In the pentathlon, Alewine finished fourth in the 60 meter hurdles, second in high jump, third in shot put, second in long jump and fourth in the 800 meter run. She also placed sixth overall in high jump and ninth in long jump.

Lincoln (Mo.)’s Latoya King was one of just seven women in the country to earn three All-American distinctions, tying for the most individual honors among all the female participants at the NCAA championship. King, from Kingston, Jamaica, claimed three national titles in 2012, including earning individual championships in the 100 meter dash (11.23) and the 200 meter dash (22.80). She also helped lead the Blue Tigers to a national title in the 4x100m relay, finishing with a time of 45.11.

After winning six indoor throwing events in 2011, senior thrower Sam Lockhart, of Lansing, Mich., followed up with an impressive outing in the 2012 championships. Lockhart finished second behind former teammate Lauren Buresh in shot put with a 15.97-meter throw. She finished with top honors in weight throw with a record-setting 20.57-meter throw.