LA CROSSE, Wis. — Senior Michaina Loriston (Boston, Mass.) qualified for the finals of the 100 meters and was joined by seniors Wendy Wooden (Sharon, Mass.) and Kate Wickenheisser (Oxford, Conn.) and junior Camille Connors (Woburn, Mass.) to qualify for the finals of the 4X100-meter relay to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's track & field team on Day Two of the NCAA Division III National Championship at host University of Wisconsin's Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wis.
The Lyons' 4X100-meter relay turned in a season-best time of 46.57 to finish fifth in this afternoon's preliminary and rank as the sixth-fastest time in school history. Wooden got out fast to give Wheaton an early lead in the race, before handing off to Loriston. Connors took the baton from Loriston, before handing off to Wickenheisser for the final 100 meters to give Wheaton a third-place showing in the second heat and the fifth-fastest time in the prelim.
Loriston ran again just over two hours later and finished second in the third heat with the ninth-fastest time in the 100-meter preliminaries at 11.85. She becomes the first Lyon to qualify for the finals in the 100 meters since Vernick Smith '04 in 2003.
The Lyons' quartet will compete in the finals of the 4X100 relay tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. to kick off the track events. Loriston will vie for a medal in the 100 meters at 3:30 p.m. All times are EDT.