Championship Central |
Final Results
INDIANAPOLIS – Lewis University captured the 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in record fashion Sunday at the Athletics & Recreation Center (ARC) on the campus of the University of Indianapolis.
The Flyers scored 168.5 points over the two-day event, edging out UIndy (167) by one-and-a-half points to set the narrowest margin of victory in the Championships’ 20-year history. Just last year, Bellarmine University set the GLVC record after the Knights defeated Lewis by four points, 143-139.
Heading into the Championship’s final event, the 4x400-meter relay, the host Greyhounds held a slim 161-160.5 advantage over Lewis, setting up a winner-take-all result. As it turned out, Bellarmine crossed the line first in 3 minutes, 56.15 seconds, followed by Lewis (3:58.25) and UIndy (3:59.13) in second and third, which extended the Flyers’ league record of GLVC titles to seven.
Bellarmine (86) placed third overall, while Missouri S&T (53) and McKendree University (43.5) were fourth and fifth. Placing sixth through 10th were Truman State University (40), University of Illinois Springfield (33), Maryville University (28), Drury University (23) and University of Southern Indiana (14). William Jewell College (7) was 11th overall and Quincy University did not register a team score in the 12-team field.
At the conclusion of the event, Lewis senior Cierra Pulliam was voted by the league coaches as GLVC Track Athlete of the Year, while Missouri S&T senior Skyler Ruszkowski was tabbed GLVC Field Athlete of the Year. Illinois Springfield newcomer Taryn Christy was named GLVC Freshman of the Year and Lewis mentor Dana Schwarting was recognized by his peers as GLVC Coach of the Year.
Each event winner was named first-team All-Conference, while runners-up were awarded second-team accolades
In addition, UIndy was named the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award winner, while 12 student-athletes were recognized as GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honorees and are now candidates for their respective school’s female Spalding Sportsmanship Award at the end of the academic year.
GLVC Major Postseason Awards
2019 GLVC Track Athlete of the Year: Cierra Pulliam, Lewis
2019 GLVC Field Athlete of the Year: Skyler Ruszkowski, Missouri S&T
2019 GLVC Freshman of the Year: Taryn Christy, Illinois Springfield
2019 GLVC Coach of the Year: Dana Schwarting, Lewis
2019 GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award: Indianapolis
2019 GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Honorees: Sarah McMurchie, Bellarmine; Jessica Archuleta-Trujillo, Drury; Gloria Esarco, Illinois Springfield; Katie Monk, Indianapolis; Allie Heinzer, Lewis; Courtney Croy, Maryville; Leah Kloss, McKendree; Anne Simpson, Missouri S&T; Hannah Horman, Quincy; Sarah Hamilton, Southern Indiana; Emily Harl, Truman State; Taylor Golden, William Jewell
GLVC Championship Team Standings
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
Lewis |
168.5 |
| 2. |
Indianapolis |
167 |
| 3. |
Bellarmine |
86 |
| 4. |
Missouri S&T |
53 |
| 5. |
McKendree |
43.5 |
| 6. |
Truman State |
40 |
| 7. |
Illinois Springfield |
33 |
| 8. |
Maryville |
28 |
| 9. |
Drury |
23 |
| 10. |
Southern Indiana |
14 |
| 11. |
William Jewell |
7 |
| 12. |
Quincy |
NTS |