GOSHEN, Ind. - The Marian University women's track and field team traveled to Goshen, Ind., this past weekend where it competed in the Mid-Central College Conference Championships. The Knights improved on a ninth place finish in 2009 by placing fourth of nine teams.

"This was truly a team effort," stated head coach David Roberts, "We did not have one individual champion on Friday or Saturday, but the women all stepped up with many season best performances. I am extremely proud of the effort put forth this weekend."

Junior Patrice Fernandes led the way for the Knights with three top-ten individual finishes, and a fourth place finish in the 4x100 relay. Fernandes placed third in the 100-meters, with a time of 12.89; sixth in the 400-meter hurdles, with a time of 1:07.31; and eighth in the 200-meters, with a time of 28.07.

Fernandes was also a member of the 4x100 relay team of freshmen Jaymee Schambers and Amy Walker and sophomore Nicole Svorinic that earned a fourth-place finish.

The Knights highest placing of the meet came from sophomore Rachel Kenney. Kenney placed second in the high jump and broke the Marian University school record and qualified for the National Championship meet in May, with a jump of 1.65m. Her accomplishments are also good enough for a national ranking of 13. Not far behind Kenney in the high jump was junior Kirsten Sordelet, who posted a mark of 1.45m that was good enough for fifth-place.

In other field events, the Knights had two top-ten finishes in the javelin. Freshman Whitley Emerson threw a season-best and placed third (33.10m) and freshman Chelsea Phend-Yap placing seventh (30.03m).

Seniors Lyndy Errett and Maureen Haaker had strong showings in their events. Errett placed sixth in the shot put (11.46m) and Haaker placed ninth in the triple jump (9.28m). Schambers also placed eighth ni the long jump, with a leap of 4.91m.

On the track, MU recorded third and fourth place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles. Schambers ran a 16.10, which was good enough for third and junior Mariam Karwath was not far behind, with a time of 16.29.

Junior Adrienne Shepherd placed sixth in the 1,500-meters (5:03.02) and 10th (2:27.23), while fellow junior Emily Miller posted an eighth-place finish in the 5,000meters, with a time of 20:01.92.

Other notable finishes include senior Brooke Meier and sophomore Audra Gehlhausen in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Meier finished 10th, with a time of 14:31.00 and Gehlhausen posted a time of 14:59.09, which was good enough for 11th.

The Knights will travel to Indiana University this weekend to compete in the Billy Hays Invitational.