LORETTO, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2006) – The Saint Francis men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams recorded several top times in last week’s Bucknell Invitational, and junior Diane Gmiter and freshman Mikko Aronopaa were rewarded by receiving Northeast Conference weekly honors.

Gmiter was named the NEC’s Field Athlete-of-the-Week after winning the shot put at the Bucknell Bison Open with an ECAC-qualifying mark of 14.62 meters.

Aronopaa won his first-ever NEC Rookie-of-the-Week award after taking second place in the long jump with a school record, and IC4A qualifying mark, of 7.18 meters. He broke the previous school mark set by current teammate Tavon Moss. 

The Saint Francis women had several top performances in addition to Gmiter’s win in the shot put. Freshman Rachel Posthumus raced to the second-best performance in school history with a 1:41.88 time in the 600-meter dash, and Kora Hardy ran a school-record 42.20 in the 300-meter dash.

The Red Flash men began the 2006-07 indoor track & field season at the Bucknell Invitational on Dec. 2. They won six events, recording eight IC4A marks and two school records. IC4A qualifiers include Moss (high jump), Aronopaa (long jump), John Balouris (1,000-meters), Ian Butcher (500 meters), Dennis Eradiri (60 meters, long jump), Dennis Dewayngaert (weight throw) and Joshua Hazen (shot put). Record-holders included Aronopaa (long jump) and Eradiri (60 meters).

Both teams will compete in the Kent State Invitational this Saturday