FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Senior Carianna Cottone's personal best in the women's 5,000-meter run highlighted the Western Illinois effort on the final day of The Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday (Feb. 25). Both the Leatherneck women (52 points) and men (41 points) placed seventh overall.

Cottone placed second in the women's 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:10.54, which is the second fastest in program history behind two-time All-American Patty Murray (17:10.34). Cottone also helped the women's distance medley relay squad win the title with a meet record (11:57.67) on Friday night.

In the women's one-mile run, junior Chelsea Lynes placed second with a time of 4:58.55. She fell just short of defeating Southern Utah's Diana Medina, who won the event with a time of 4:57.14. Elsewhere, Lynes used a time of 2:15.25 to place seventh in the women's 800-meter run.

Sophomore Michael Crabtree and junior Jamario Taylor placed second and third, respectively, in the men's high jump. Both athletes cleared a height of 6-09.00 and fell short of South Dakota State's Jared Vlastuin (7-01.00). Crabtree set a personal best with his effort, which ranks eighth in program history.

Senior Dana LaRue, who was the runner-up in Friday's weight throw competition, placed third in the women's shot put with a mark of 48-05.50. Senior Jessica Ortega used of throw of 43-10.50 to finish seventh in the event.

The men had a strong showing in the triple jump competition. With a leap of 45-08.50, junior Davin Dollison placed fifth overall while freshman Matthew Funches (44-11.75) finished in seventh. Freshman Cedric Cheeks placed eighth with a mark of 44-02.50.

Dollison also competed in the men's 4x400-meter relay and helped the squad place fifth overall. Dollison joined Jeffrey Liles, Jordan Liles and Michael Hemming to record a season-best time of 3:23.24.

Sophomore Nathaniel Marshall (51-11.00) and senior Brayden Sherrick (50-05.50) placed fifth and eighth, respectively, in the men's shot put. Sherrick's performance is a personal best while Marshall also finished fifth in Friday's weight throw competition.

In the women's high jump, senior Talisa Watson placed sixth by clearing a height of 5-01.75. Meanwhile, senior Tyra Woodruff cleared a height of 10-10.00 in the women's pole vault competition and finished eighth overall.

Other Western Illinois personal bests include senior Tyler Lippert in the shot put (48-01.25) and freshman Megan McGlone in the 60-meter hurdles (9.80) and 800-meter run (2:32.15). McGlone used 3027 points to place ninth overall in the women's pentathlon.  

Western's final event of the indoor season is Saturday (March 3) at the Last Chance Qualifier hosted by Iowa State. Cottone and Lynes will attempt to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which take place in Boise, Idaho on March 9 and 10. 

Summit League Championships Women's Awards 

Newcomer of the Year: Analisa Huschle (USD)
Coach of the Year: Ryan Godfrey (NDSU)
Female Field Championship MVP: Lora Sheaer (SDSU)
Female Championship MVP: Diana Medina (SUU) 

Summit League Championships Men's Awards 

Newcomer of the Year: Austin West (SUU)
Coach of the Year: Eric Houle (SUU)
Male Field Championship MVP: Jared Vlastuin (SDSU)
Male Track Championship MVP: Cameron Lewis (SUU)

Final Results

Men's
1. Southern Utah - 142
2. Oral Roberts - 118
3. North Dakota State - 104
4. South Dakota - 89
5. South Dakota State - 83
6. UMKC - 75
7. Western Illinois - 41
8. Oakland - 9

Women's
1. North Dakota State - 206
2. South Dakota - 115
3. Southern Utah - 80
4. South Dakota State - 76
5. UMKC - 63
6. Oral Roberts - 53
7. Western Illinois - 52
8. Oakland - 14
9. IPFW - 4

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