Join us every Wednesday on erauathletics.com as we take a moment to remember and recognize each of our conference & national championships.
The 2009 season was the fifth season of competition for the Embry-Riddle women's track & field team. After finishing as the runners-up at the 2008 Sun Conference Championships, the Eagles took home their first conference title in 2009, winning the Sun Conference Championship meet with 235.5 points to finish 84.5 points ahead of second-place Webber International.
Flo (Silva) Vazquez led the team with 25 points thanks to first-place finishes in the 1500m and 5000m and a fourth-place result in the 800m. For her efforts, Silva was named the Sun Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
ERAU scored big points in the 3000m Steeplechase, the 1500m, and the 5000m, sweeping the podium in all three events. Erika Langhauser won the 3000m Steeplechase in 12:31.08, followed by Madeleine Edbom (12:57.64) and Jen Haydt (13:42.93). The 1500m was won by (Silva) Vazquez in 4:54.12, with Alex Salinas (5:05.16) and Beth McCubbin (5:05.53) taking the other two places on the podium. In the 5000m, (Silva) Vazquez took the top spot once again, finishing in 19:47.09, while Salinas (20:26.54) was second and Lori Costello (21:10.92) was third. The Blue and Gold also took the top two spots in the 10000m, with Langhauser winning the event in 44:32.51 and Costello taking second in 44:40.21.
In recognition of his efforts in leading both the men's and women's team to a conference title, Head Coach
Mike Rosolino received the 2009 Sun Conference Track & Field Head Coach of the Year award for both teams.
Check back next week when we look back at Mislav Hizak's 2005 ITA/NAIA National Championship run.