MARION, IN – Running with a lot of confidence, Spring Arbor University senior, Carissa Hudson claimed yet another first place finish for the Lady Cougars.  The latest was in the 1000m run at the I.W.U. Invitational last weekend in Marion, IN as Hudson finished with a time 3:01.38 which qualifies her for the NAIA National Meet. 

This is the third event that Hudson is now qualified for at the National meet.  Her 1000m time ranks her 2^nd less than a quarter of a second behind Breanna Mathes (3:01.14)  of Morningside (IA).   Hudson ranks fifth in the Mile run with a time of 5:07.17, and she owns the top ranked time in the 5000m with a time of 17:40.35.

But Hudson wasn't the only strong performer at I.W.U.. Laura Perschbacher set a new school record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 10.10 in the prelims.  Perschbacher would then finish 7^th in the finals out of 21 hurdlers.

Andrea Finkbeiner put in a solid performance in the long jump finishing 8^th out of 29 competitors with a personal best jump of 17'2 ¾".  The jump puts her 2^nd on the all-time record list just 2 ½" off the school record.

Erika Mestdagh raised the bar in the high jump with a new indoor personal best of 5' 1 ¾" finishing 4^th out of 18 jumpers.  Mestdagh remains in 4^th on the all-time record list.

Jennifer Lichtman had a top 10 performance in the triple jump and improved her personal best to 30'5 ¾ placing her 4^th on the all-time record list.

The Lady Cougars will be back in action when they travel to Angola, IN for the Trine Invitational on Friday, February 1^st.