With half of the team being first timers to true conference competition, the Lady Lions track and field team was able to come within 23 points of third place.

Coming into the MIAA championships, Patty Vavra, head coach, and the team knew that on paper they would end up in sixth place, and that’s what happened.

Though sixth place is not what was desired, Vavra thought the team had some good come out of the meet.

“I felt like that we had some really outstanding performances and some improvements,” Vavra said. “Unfortunately, in a couple of areas we didn’t have that.”

Vavra thought the team didn’t play the spoiler role as well as it had hoped, but had some outstanding performances otherwise.

In the 5,000-meter run, Rachel Patterson was not slated to place for points, but stepped her performance up and placed sixth with a time of 18.48.

In the 400-meter dash, Mary Garrett took first with a 56.92 run, and Lashia Castle finished eighth with a time of 59.77.

“I don’t know how much more you could ask somebody to do,” Vavra said.

Garrett did not only place well in the 400, but she placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.49, placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.08, and was part of the 4×400 team that placed third.

Garrett will be traveling to Boston on March 14-15 for the national championships to compete in the 400.

In the weight throw, Danee Jones placed first and set a MIAA record with a toss of 58-1.

Vavra thinks the MIAA is the strongest throw conference in the nation and thinks setting a throw record in this conference is a special achievement.

Jones also finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 41-8.

Jones will be competing in the national competition.

“I’m proud of our young ladies, and the effort that they’ve put in, and I know that they will continue that effort through the outdoor,” Vavra said.

Friday and Saturday, most of the team will be preparing for the outdoor season, while Garrett and Jones prepare for nationals.