May 26, 2006

Emporia, Kan. - Grand Valley State junior Mandi Zemba continued her stellar career Friday evening with a decisive victory in the 3000-meter run at the NCAA DII Track & Field National Championships in Emporia, Kansas. The title was Zemba's third individual National Championship in her career. As a team, Grand Valley State is in first place with 40 points, three ahead of second place Adams State. The Championships will conclude Saturday.

Zemba was leading the front pack at the 1000-meter mark and then pushed the tempo midway through the second 1000 meters to extend her lead. She increased her lead in the final 1000 meters to easily outdistance the rest of the field en route to her third career individual National Championship in a time of 9:27.01. Zemba won the 1500 meter run as a freshman and claimed the cross country National Championship last fall. Lauren Bader earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish (9:58.09) in the 3000. Lindsey Jones cleared 12-6.25 in the pole vault to earn All-American honors with a second-place finish. Dianna Noonan finished seventh, clearing 12-2.50 to earn All-American honors.

Zemba, Adrian Chouinard and Karlie Singleton quailified for the finals in the 5000-meter run late Friday. Zemba qualified first with a time of 17:48.05, while Couinard was ninth and Singleton 11th.

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"We have put ourselves in position to finish in the top four," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "We need some strong performances Saturday, but I obviously like where we stand at this point," added Baltes.