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AU 4x800m Relay Runs to a School Record at Patriot League Championships
Eagles place second in race; Baclawski takes third in 10,000m

May 2, 2003 | Results

Keira Carlstrom's 2:12 split helped the Eagles to a second place finish in the 4x800m relay.

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Running in the first day of the Patriot League Championships, the American University 4x800m relay team of Leah Heinecke-Krumhus, Keira Carlstrom, Samia Akbar and Zaia Wharton took second place while setting a new AU school record of 9:14.01. The team broke the old mark by nearly 40 seconds. Jen Baclawski ran a personal-best time of 37:11.79 to place third in the 10,000-meters as she moved to second all-time at AU.

Heinecke-Krumhus ran the leadoff leg for the Eagles. She handed off in seventh place after running a 2:28 leg for the 800m. Carlstrom took the baton and put AU back in the race, running an impressive split of 2:12 to move the squad up to fifth place.

Akbar ran the third leg for American, and moved the team up into second place as the team from Navy laid claim to an impressive lead. Akbar closed well, to split a 2:15. Wharton took the baton from Akbar to run the anchor leg for the relay. She split 62 seconds for her first leg as she held off the runners from Army and Lehigh as the Eagles took second.

In the 10,000m, Baclawski put herself in the front pack of five runners throught the first mile of 6:01. The pack was led by Theresa Dennis of Bucknell and included Rian Landers from Lafayette, Tara Mahoney of Army, Steph Patterson of Navy and Baclawski. The pace remained at 6:00 for the second mile as Patterson fell off the pace. Dennis continued to lead the pack through the third mile in 5:58 and 18:44 for the 5k.

Mahoney tried to take the pace on the 13th lap, but Dennis took it back as the pace quickened and Mahoney was unable to stay in the lead pack. Baclawski continued to run in third, just behind Dennis and Landers. Dennis continued to press the pace, completing the fourth mile in 5:52. The fifth mile slowed back to a 6:01 as the trio entered the final five laps.

With three and a half laps remaining, Baclawski moved into second place and onto Dennis' shoulder. Landers made a move with a lap and a half to go as Baclawski went with her. Landers' move proved to be too much as Baclawski finished in third in 37:11.79 as she qualified for the ECAC Championships.

The Eagles are currently in fifth place in the meet. Navy leads the team competition with 55 points.

The PL Championships continue tomorrow with the final day of the competition beginning at noon.