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Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Results

GRINNELL, Iowa (Mar. 10, 2012)-- Krista Cota finished ninth in a mile race marred by several collisions as the North Central College women's track & field team closed out the 2012 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships at Grinnell College's Bear Recreation & Athletic Center on Saturday.

Cota grabbed the early lead, setting the pace for the first 2 1/2 laps of the eight-lap run. The junior was third at the halfway point and was near the front before a series of collisions over a 100-meter span strung out the tightly packed field as Cota needed to hurdle a falling competitor before finishing in ninth in 4 minutes, 58.80 seconds in just her fifth ever attempt at the distance.

Cota advanced to the finals by virtue of her performance in the preliminaries on Friday afternoon, making the eight lap tour of the track in 4:57.38 to place fifth in her heat and eighth overall.

Elizabeth Composto opened the championships for North Central on Friday, placing eighth in her debut at nationals, clearing 12 feet 3 1/2 inches to earn All-American status.

The Cardinals switch gears and open up the outdoor season on March 30, hosting the First Chance Invitational at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.