ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Carleton College women's track & field program took part in the Tommie Twilight on Wednesday, using this competition as a chance to build momentum with the conference meet only nine days away. The Knights competed against two NCAA Division I programs as well as many of the squads from around the MIAC.
 
"As in past years, the Tommie Twilight has proven to be a confidence builder going into the MIAC Championships," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "This evening, the women's team demonstrated once again that their hard work this season has paid off, as they achieved 18 personal bests performances."
 
The day's first race was a sign of things to come. Libby Rowland (Fy./Tulsa, Okla./Holland Hall) took sixth overall and second among D-III racers in the 3000-meter steeplechase as she clocked a time of 11:55.38, taking more than 20 seconds off her previous personal best. Sophie McManus (Fy./McCall, Idaho/McCall-Donnelly) was the next racer across the line as she finished at 11:59.92, good for a nearly 29-second improvement.
 
In the 1500-meter run, 7 of the 8 Knights that raced set new PRs, including Helen Cross (So./Nederland, Colo./Nederland), who took 10 seconds off her personal best and placed eighth overall.
 
Nayeli Williams (Fy./Minneapolis, Minn./Brooklyn Center) was the top D-III finisher and placed fourth overall in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.58. Later in the evening she raced the 400-meter hurdles for the first time in her collegiate career and finished in 1:06.07, which was good for fifth place and once again made her the top D-III racer in the event.
 
Jocelyn Ferguson (Fy./Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis South) broke that elusive barrier of 60 seconds in the 400-meter dash, clocking 59.68, which was second overall. She later placed fifth in the 200-meter dash at a personal-best of 27.25.
 
Riley Roberts (So./Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington) took fifth place in the 100-meter dash with her time of 13.27.
 
Carleton's other top-5 result came from Julia Johnston (Sr./Winchester, Mass./Winchester), who finished fifth in the javelin throw. Her first attempt proved to be her best, measuring 25.56 meters.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Grace Blanchette (Jr./Honolulu , Hawaii/Punahou), Eve Farrell (Sr./Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi), and Sydney Marsh (Sr./Austin, Minn./Austin) will compete in the MIAC Heptathlon on May 5-6 at Laird Stadium. The first event on Thursday begins at 12:00 p.m.