ST. PAUL, MINN. – It has been a record setting spring for the St. Catherine University outdoor track and field team. Three school records have fallen in the first five meets of the season, and a slew of Wildcat athletes have set personal records (PRs). One of those athletes was distance runner Courtney Kirkeide (Greenbush, Minn. / Greenbush-Middle River), who has been named Wildcat Athlete of the Week for her performance at the St. Olaf Manitou Classic last Friday.
Kirkeide has been one of St. Kate’s top performers in the distance races all season, especially in the 5000 meter run. The junior distance runner already recorded a person best performance in the event at the Pointe Loma Nazareene Meet in San Diego, California in late March, but at Friday afternoon’s Manitou Classic, Kirkeide was even better. She finished the race in an impressive 18:53.25, which bested her previous PR in the event by over 14 seconds, to take fourth.
Kirdeide’s time in the 5000 was not only a personal best performance, but a historic performance as well. The time is No. 6 all-time on St. Kate’s top-10 performance list and is also the No. 13 time in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season.
The Wildcats will return to the track this Saturday when they travel to Macalester College to participate in the Janis Rider Invitational. Then, St. Kate’s will participate in the Tommie Twilight at the University of St. Thomas before the MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Saint John’s University May 13 and 14.
