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Carlstrom and Akbar Victorious at Patriot League Championships
Akbar claims 5000m while Carlstrom wins 1500m

May 3, 2003 | Results

Samia Akbar defended her Patriot League crown in the 5000m.

LEWISBURG, Pa. — In the second day of Patriot League track and field competition, the American University women's squad got off to a strong start as Keira Carlstrom easily won the 1500m in the second fastest time in school history of 4:31.82. Samia Akbar won the 5000m for the second year in a row, running 17:02.36 to set a new Patriot League record.

Carlstrom settled into second place early in her race, but just before the end of the first lap, she took the lead as the pack came through in 75 seconds. She continued to lead the field with Ashley Urick and Lisa Procaccino following. Carlstrom dropped the pace to 70 seconds for the second lap as she opened a two second lead.

Carlstrom continued to pull away as she ran a 71 second third lap and she then ran a 54 second final 300m to easily win the race by almost five seconds. With the victory, Carlstrom automatically qualifies for the NCAA Regional Championships.

Akbar defended her title in the 5000m in impressive fashion, running 17:02.36 to win the event by 34 seconds. She took the lead from the gun, opening a lead of over 50 meters just 600m into the race. McNees ran in the chase pack of six runners. Akbar led the field by over 100m after her first mile of 5:19.

Akbar continued to run an amazing race by herself, leading by 150m at the two mile mark after a 5:28 split. She kept pulling away from the field running a 5:35 third mile as she broke her own Patriot League record by 11 seconds. McNees placed 12th in the event, running 19:30.64 to move eighth all-time.

In the 800m, Carlstrom was entered having not run a time earlier in the season. Running in the first heat, she ran a 65 second first quarter to open a four second lead. Carlstrom continued to run strong over the next lap as she pulled away from the field to win her heat in 2:16.59 to finish fourth in the meet. Her time is the second fastest of all-time at AU.

Zaia Wharton ran in the fast heat of the 800m and got a strong start. She took the lead 200m into the race with Nicki Piper of Bucknell running in second. After a 65 second first lap, Wharton was pressured by Ann Lee Cole of Army and Danielle Gabay of Colgate. She continued to hold them off through 600m but was unable to hold on as she finished fifth in the heat and seventh overall in 2:18.44.

The Eagles finished the meet in sixth place, an improvement from last year's meet. Navy won the women's title.

Following the Patriot League Championships, the Eagles will compete at the JMU Invitational next weekend.