Norse race to impressive finish at IIAC meet

The Luther men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in the 2009 IIAC Outdoor Championships May 9-10, finishing in fifth and third place respectively. The meet was the last of the year for both teams.

The women’s team tallied a two-day total of 107 points to finish behind Wartburg College, who claimed the conference title with 243 points, and Central College with 138.5.

All-conference honors were earned by Rachel Wobeter (‘09) and Elise Bennett (‘09) in the 10,000-meter run during the first day of competition. Wobeter placed second from the field of 14 runners with a time of 39:25.79. Bennett was third, clocked at 39:28.69. This was the second time both runners earned all-conference honors in this event during their college careers.

Katie Dolan (‘10) was the only Norse athlete from the women’s team to earn all-conference honors during the second day of competition. She started the day by picking up her second consecutive conference title in the 3,000- meter steeplechase.

In all, there were three conference champions on the women’s team, with Lauren Boleen (‘11), Liz Knutson (‘12) and Dolan all winning the javelin, pole vault and 3,000 steeplechase respectively. Boleen and Knutson also earned All-Conference honors with their first-place finishes.

For Knutson, a first-year from Monroe, Wis., the victory in the pole vault was her first conference title in her varsity career.

“It was such a great personal achievement for me to win my event,” Knutson said. “But the team support was the best part of the meet by far.”

The Luther men finished in fifth place with a point total of 67. Central College won the team title with 198.5 and was followed by Loras College with 155, Wartburg with 150 and Buena Vista with 72.5.

Josh Blessing (‘09) and David McKay (‘09) earned all-conference honors during the first day of competition. Austin Tegels (‘10), Mike Switzer (‘10) and Karl Larson (‘09) each earned all-conference honors for the first time of their careers during the final day of competition.

There were three second-place finishes on the men’s team by Blessing, McKay and Tegles in the pole vault, 10,000-meter run and the 3,000-meter run respectively. Switzer finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Larson finished third in the 1500-meter run.

In addition, Blessing became only the second pole vaulter in Luther history to earn all-conference honors in the event four times.

Head Coach Jeff Wettach heaped praise on this year’s team.

“It has been very rewarding and enjoyable for me to coach them,” Wettach said. “This team has been its own team and had its own season.”

Wettach has high hopes that the team will build on this year’s success and that next year will come with even greater successes for the Norse.

Many of the athletes attributed their success in part to the support of the team.

“The biggest highlight of the weekend to me was the team support and enthusiasm from everyone who was there,” Wettach said. “The team aspect of this whole weekend was amazing.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams are looking forward to next year, especially in light of the news that the track will be replaced with a brand new facility.

The prospect of a new track means the possibility of holding some home meets next year. This year Luther was unable to host a home meet, which was disappointing for athletes and fans.

Luther track and field will be graduating 24 seniors this year, but Coach Wettach said that while they will be thoroughly missed, their hard work has left an imprint on the team. He was also confident that the returning athletes will be ready to attack the IIAC championship again next year.