CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Feb. 11, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College indoor track and field team took part in the non-scoring MIT Coed Invitational this afternoon. Senior Miriam Larson-Koester set the tone for the Lyons with her third place toss of 11.82 meters in the shot put. In the process, she qualified for the ECAC Division III Championships in the event.

Larson-Koester finished just in front of classmate Jacinta Edebeli, who grabbed third place with her throw of 11.79 meters.  Junior Connie Ward also competed in the shot put, taking seventh place overall (10.34 meters). Larson-Koester added to her fine day with a fifth place toss of 11.77 meters in the weight throw.

Mount Holyoke runners occupied four of the top five spots in the 800-meter dash. Holly Valenzuela led the way with a second place time of 2:35.65. She was followed by classmate Felicia Cordeiro (2:36.17), first year Gretchen Rowe (2:38.49) and sophomore Lucia Garcia (2:40.59).

Garcia also turned in an outstanding performance in the one-mile run, taking sixth place overall (5:53.91). Meanwhile, junior Whitney Bailey crossed the line fifth in the 400-meter dash (1:11.03), and sophomore Kate Brackett turned in a seventh place showing in the 200-meter dash (29.20).

Larson-Koester (shot put), Edebeli (shot put, pentathlon, 60-meter dash) and sophomore Naomi Miller (800-meter run) will represent the Lyons at the New England Division III Championships next weekend. The two-day competition is slated to take place at Smith College on Friday and Saturday.