VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Three members of the Carleton College women's track & field team competed on the opening day of racing at the 2024 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Phoebe Ward collected second-team All-America honors for her performance in the 5,000-meter run.
 
All three were members of the Knights' national championship cross country team in the fall, but had differing levels of experience at the NCAA Track & Field stage.
 
"Division III track & field is impressive," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "These athletes are amazing. Qualifying is a tremendous accomplishment. I am extremely proud of these women."
 
This year, first team All-America honors are being awarded to the top-8 finishers in each event with second team recognition going to finishers 9-16 in individual events and 9-10 in relay events.
 
Mary Blanchard finished 17th in the 800-meter run, clocking a time of 2:14.27. She was competing are her third national track meet, having placed 14th in the mile last winter and 10th in the outdoor 800-meter race last May.
 
"Mary set the school record last week to qualify, and this week ran her second fastest time of the season." said Ricks. "It was an aggressive race, and she did a great job putting herself in it. This is the fastest I have ever seen this field."
 
Ward was joined by Sophie McManus in qualifying for the 5,000-meter run. Ward was seeded 16th and placed 14th after posting a personal-best time of 17:07.18. McManus finished 20th after crossing the line 17:27.14.
 
Ward's All-America recognition was the 26th all-time for Carleton women's indoor track & field (see chart below), and marks the seventh honor the Knights have collected for the 5,000-meter distance. It is her second career All-America accolade after placing 16th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November.
 
"Phoebe and Sophie implemented a solid race structure setting themselves up to move the second half of the race," said Ricks. "This was both Phoebe's and Sophie's first time at track nationals. It is very different than cross country. They gained valuable experience going into the outdoor season."
 
Up Next for the Knights
Helen Cross will be the lone Carleton runner to compete on Saturday. She will race the 3,000-meter distance with the starting gun is scheduled to go off at 5:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. CT.
 
Carleton Women's Track & Field All-Americans — Indoor Track & Field
1985   --   Melissa Hamilton (4th - 55m)
1988   --   Lisa Kelly (1st - HJ)
1988   --   Anna Prineas (1st - 3,000m)
1989   --   Anna Prineas (2nd - 3,000m)
1991   --   Aminah Ricks (5th - 55m)
1994   --   Aminah Ricks (5th - 55m)
1996   --   Kate Ainsworth (3rd - 800m)
1997   --   Busola Akinwale (5th - LJ)
1998   --   Busola Akinwale (4th - LJ)
2009   --   Simone Childs-Walker (3rd - 5,000m)
2010   --   Simone Childs-Walker (3rd - 5,000m)
2011   --   Simone Childs-Walker (3rd - 5,000m)
2012   --   Simone Childs-Walker (7th - 5,000m)
2014   --   Amelia Campbell (1st - Pentathlon)
2014   --   Kao Sutton (4th - Shot Put)
2015   --   Colette Celichowski, Emma Grisanzio, Ellie Wilson, Ruth Steinke (6th - distance medley)
2016   --   Ruth Steinke (2nd - 5,000m)
2016   --   Ruth Steinke (5th - 3,000m)
2017   --   Alexa Feeney (5th - 400m)
2018   --   Meg Mathison (8th - Mile)
2020   --   Clara Mayfield (NR - 5,000m) *Meet not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022   --   Clara Mayfield (4th - Mile)
2022   --   Katherine Geist (6th - Mile)
2023   --   Clara Mayfield (3rd - Mile)
2023   --   Nayeli Williams (5th - long jump)
2024   –   Phoebe Ward (14th - 5,000m - second team All-America)