WAVERLY, Iowa – For the third time in program history, the Illinois Wesleyan women's team claimed the national championship at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships on Saturday, May 28 at Walston-Hoover Stadium on campus of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
The Titans, who were also national outdoor champs in 2008 and 2010, earned 42 points in the championships and topped Baldwin-Wallace at 41. Washington U. placed third with 39.
On Saturday, senior Nia Joiner finished second in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.11 seconds. The winning time was turned in by sophomore Tyra Abraham of Claremont Mudd Scripps in 12.10 seconds.
IWU senior Jill Harmon matched her third place finish in the heptathlon by placing third in the triple jump with a school-record distance of 40 feet-9 ¾ inches. The winner was senior Bria Halama of Wis.-LaCrosse with 42 feet-2 ¼ inches.
Senior Ellen Renk was 15th in the javelin with a throw of 130 feet- 4 ¼ inches and the women's 4x100 relay team did not record a time in the finals due to an infraction. The team consisted of Joiner, senior Angela Herrmann, sophomore Amelia Glueck and junior Maddison Zimmer.
The IWU men's team tied for 24th place with 10 points, all coming from national discus champion Max Leonard. The men's team champion was Wis.-LaCrosse with 41, followed by Wis.-Eau Claire with 33 and Monmouth with 32.
This is the seventh national championship in Illinois Wesleyan history. In addition to the three outdoor track titles, IWU has national championships in men's basketball (1997), women's indoor track (2008), baseball (2010) and women's basketball (2012).
