Women's Track & Field Blazes New Territory in MVC Outdoor Championships

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - - With a multitude of strong performances on Sunday, Belmont University women's track & field wrapped up the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships from the Gibson Track & Field Complex on the campus of Indiana State University.
 
The Bruins earned five podium finishes on Sunday - including individual event victories in the discus throw and the 5000m - to finish the championship meet in fourth place overall with 130 points.
 
The Bruins more than doubled last year's point total (56).
 
Rebekah Stucker was named as the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships most valuable athlete. She accounted for 26 points and earned a spot on the podium in each of the three events that she participated in, including two first place finishes in the shot put and discus throw.
 
Continuing her excellent weekend, Kaitlin Vanderkolk celebrated once again with another win, this time coming in the 5000m. On top of her victory on the track, she was also honored as an Elite 17 Award Winner. This award is given to the student athlete who has the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC's 17 team championships.
 
Adding to the medal count for the Bruins, Rachel Soukup finished second in the 1500m finals with a blazing fast time of 4:23.91 as well as second in the 5000m with a time of 16:47.79.
 
Soukup was named MVC Freshman of the Year and earned 16 points for the Bruins.
 
Michella Diebenow had a strong showing in both the 400m hurdles and the 100m hurdles, earning third and eighth place, respectively - She set personal records in both events.
 
After earning herself a spot in the 800m finals, Alexa Fortman made the best of the opportunity, securing a new personal record of 2:09.96 and resetting a new school record.
 
The 4x400m team ran a season best time of 3:50.94.
 
A complete list of Belmont student-athletes who competed on Saturday with overall finishes can be found below.
 
Sunday, May 12
Discus Throw
Rebekah Stucker -- 1st -- 51.18m
Olivia Moyer -- 10th -- 41.95m
Logan Gray -- 14th -- 38.42m
 
4x100m Relay
Richmond, Mitchell, Diebenow, Moore -- 8th -- 46.92
 
1500m – Finals
Rachel Soukup -- 2nd -- 4:23.91
 
100m Hurdles – Finals
Michella Diebenow -- 8th -- 15.32
 
800m - Finals
Alexa Fortman -- 4th – 2:09.96
 
400m Hurdles – Finals
Michella Diebenow --3rd – 1:00.14
 
5000m Kaitlyn Vanderkolk -- 1st -- 16:38.02
Rachel Soukup -- 2nd -- 16:46.79
Brooke Stromsland -- 4th -- 17:03.12
 
4x400m Relay Richmond, Balcerak, Fortman, Harvey -- 7th -- 3:50.94
 
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