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Akbar Claims First Place in 5,000 at Patriot League Championships
American Junior Cruises to Victory, Teammate Baclawski Fifth, Distance Medley Relay Places Third

February 17, 2002 | Meet Results

WEST POINT, N.Y. —

Day One

The first day of the Patriot League Indoor Track Championships brought home the first ever Patriot League individual championship in track for an American University woman in the 5,000-meter run.

Junior Samia Akbar cruised to victory in the event, beating Lehigh's Lucinda Hull by almost ten seconds. Akbar ran a 17:20.80, missing her own school record by only .66 seconds. "I just sat behind the leaders for the first two miles," Akbar said. "They switched around a lot and I just went on the last mile." Teammate Jen Baclawski came in fifth in 17:48.98, just .44 behind Bucknell's Chris Crowe. Baclawski's time was a personal best by over 30 seconds and moved her to second all-time in the event behind Akbar.

Day Two

Freshman Megan Simpson got the day started for the women by competing in the 1,000-meter run at the meet. The tightly pack was tightly bunched for the first 400-meters, but then a move was made by the leaders. Simpson hung on to run 3:07.90 and finish 11th.

The only other event that the women competed in on Sunday was the distance medley relay (DMR). Whitney McNees led of the race and handed off in fourth place following the 1200-meter leg. Leah Heinecke-Krumhus took the baton for the 400 and handed off in sixth. Megan Simpson moved the Eagles up to fifth with her 2:28 800-meters. Samia Akbar took the baton just behind the fourth place runner, but the distance to pick up the third place position seemed to be overwhelming. Akbar patiently moved up through the mile leg and was able to claim third place for American with her 5:14 mile. This was the first ever DMR run by an American women's team, so they were able to establish a mark for others to chase at 12:33.54.

The women finished with 18 points, placing them in seventh. Bucknell claimed the team title. American returns to action next week at the Virginia Tech Last Chance Meet.