CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - Seniors Ari Curtis (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Tyse Samani (Kansas City, Mo.) along with sophomore Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) all registered second-place finishes at the State Farm Missouri Valley Indoor Track And Field Championship on Sunday (Feb. 27)

Curtis ran the second-fastest 400-meter time in school history crossing the finish line in 55.99. Fellow senior Beth Hamling (Council Bluffs, Iowa) was third finishing in 56.07.

"They both ran a very strategic race, there is nothing that I would want them to change," said head coach Natasha Brown.  "They showed very good teamwork in helping each other. "

Smith set a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles clocking in at 8.60. Sophomore Sarah Yeager (Ottumwa, Iowa) registered a sixth-place finish with a time of 8.99.

"With Marissa the thing she is doing well and she is getting into the zone," said Brown. "When she competes she is focused and she just executes her race."

Samani, the defending conference champion in the high jump, leapt 5 feet seven inches to finish second.

"Tyse was out to defend her title, so this was a tough result for her," commented Brown. "She had some nice clearances, and this sets her up nicely for the outdoor season."

Senior Kara McCartney (Elgin, Iowa) earned a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter finals finishing 2:14.00. Clarissa LaFlora (Kewanee, Ill.) was eighth in the event clocking in at 2:18.94.

"Although Kara was disappointed with her final time, she has set her self up nicely to run sub 2:12 outdoors," said Brown.

Senior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) placed sixth in the mile run as she finished the race in 5:04.96. She also earned a ninth-place finish in the 5,000-meter race crossing the finish line in 17:27.66.

"We are very proud of Casey, she scored in two events, and almost scored in a third event," said Brown.

Senior Johanna Sprang (New Brighton, Minn.) tied for ninth in the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet 4.50 inches.

"The women had an amazing indoor season," said Brown "This season across the board we saw a lot of different people step up their performances. I am hoping that we will ride this wave of energy to the outdoor season."