The women’s distance medley team that finished fifth in the nation at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships claimed silver at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines last week.

The team of sophomore Tara Kilburg, junior Hannah Weiss, sophomore Laura Rieger and senior Mary-Bridget Corken also set a new school record, finishing the race with a time of 12:00.31.

In the meantime, the men’s 4×800 meter relay also set a new school record. The team of senior Ray Orris, junior Cody Dryer, sophomore Mark Sulkin and junior John Fry placed eighth with a time of 7:42.11.

The women’s 4×100 meter relay of senior Shannan Burge, junior Barb Kremer, first-year Kathleen Loftus and senior Joanna Olerich also made it to the finals at Drake.

Many of the athletes who competed in Des Moines then sprinted back to compete in the biggest home meet ever hosted by Loras, which attracted numerous teams from around the Midwest, especially Iowa and Wisconsin.

For the women at the Loras Open, Kilburg won the 800-meter run, senior Mary-Bridget Corken won the 1,500-meter run, junior Erica Stevens won the 5,000-meter run, and sophomore Emily Simones finished first in the 10,000-meter run. Weiss placed second in the 400-meter dash.

For the men, sophomore Mark Sulkin won the 800-meter run, and he also set a personal record with a time of 1:54.68. Junior Tyler Meyer won the 1,000-meter run, junior Chris Swift finished second in the 400-meter dash, senior Chris Buresh placed fifth in both the high jump and the pole vault, and senior Alex McGrew was fourth in the javelin throw.

Coach Bob Schultz singled out praise for four athletes who he said performed beyond his expectations, including Sulkin; junior Steve Neukum and senior Jake Kimmes, who competed in the pole vault; and sophomore Heidi Tobin, who competed in the discus and the hammer throw.

Schultz also was impressed by how the teamed push through the hardships of the weather conditions.

“It was a long meet, one of the longest I’ve been at in my life,” he said. “I’m proud of our athletes persevering through the long day and the rainy weather.”

The men’s and women’s teams now are preparing for the Iowa Conference Championships that are scheduled for next weekend in Pella.