Garrahan 3000-steeplechase win keeps Amherst at top of standings

OSHKOSH, Wis. - Amherst College’s (Mass.) Shauneen Garrahan kept her Lord Jeffs’ squad squarely in the thick of the 2007 NCAA Division III women’s team point race Friday (May 25), adding the 3000-meter steeplechase title to her 10,000-meter victory from Thursday (May 24).

Garrahan’s 10:13.33 clocking set a new national meet and J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium record. Her second career national 3,000-meter steeplechase title and third overall individual national championship also was a NCAA Division III season best effort. It jumped Amherst College's team point total to 27, leading pre-meet favorite Calvin College (Mich.) by six-and-a-half points. Loras College (Iowa), turning to the talents of the senior and junior throwing duo of Dana Klemm and Ellen Thys for the second consecutive day as they placed second and seventh respectively in the hammer throw, stayed within striking distance as well, sitting third with 20 points. 

State University of New York-Cortland’s Christina Acquaviva (heptathlon), University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Terri Schwamb (hammer throw), University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Jillian Crandall (high jump), and Augustana College (Ill.) of Megan Voiland (pole vault) also gained individual national championships. Seven J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium records fell during day two, as Acquaviva in the heptathlon, Crandall in the high jump, Illinois Wesleyan University’s Rachel Anderson in the 400-meter dash preliminaries, Voiland in the pole vault, North Central College's (Ill.) of Amber Druien in the 800-meter run preliminaries, senior Aislinn Sowash of Haverford College (Pa.) in the 100- meter hurdle preliminaries, and Garrahan in the 3,000-meter steeplechase set new stadium standards.

Day three action begins Saturday at noon with competition in the shot put, javelin, and triple jump.