Hermanson Wins NCAA Midwest Region 800 Meter Title; Gigstead, Carlson Advance to NCAA Championships
5/31/2009 1:15:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
NORMAN, Okla. - North Dakota State senior Laura Hermanson captured the 800 meters at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday, May 30 to become the first Bison to ever win an NCAA Divison I regional title. Hermanson, along with sophomore Brittany Gigstead, advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 800 meters. Sophomore Whitney Carlson was second in the 400 meter hurdles to also advance to the NCAA Championships.
Hermanson won the 800 in 2:05.60, only 1/10 of a second ahead of second place finisher Heather Dorniden of Minnesota. Gigstead came in fifth in a time of 2:07.78. The top five finishers in each event earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championships June 11-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Carlson finished second in the 400 meter hurdles in 58.12, lowering the school record she set in yesterday's preliminaries by .33. She will compete in Fayetteville in two weeks.
Freshman Kristen Killoran competed in the triple jump for the Bison. She came in 17th with a personal best mark of 41-0 1/2, which is fourth all-time at NDSU. Senior Amanda Benz tied for 19th in the shot put with a throw of 47-5 3/4.
The 4x400 relay team of junior Heather Zander, sophomore Amy Bestland, Gigstead and Hermanson finished 10th with a time of 3:42.98.
The Bison finished 11th at their first ever Divison I Midwest Regional with 27 points. Hermanson led the way with 10 points and a regional title. Carlson earned eight in the 400 hurdles and Gigstead tallied four in the 800. Freshman Leslie Brost earned five points after finishing fourth in the pole vault on Friday.
