OLYMPIA, Wash. – As the calendar switches to March, senior Karissa Carlson (Pateros, Wash./Pateros HS) will be on her way to Geneva, Ohio and the 2012 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships at the SPIRE Institute Sports Complex.
Carlson will be competing in the 800m run, having earned the 11th seed with a time of 2:18.93. Ironically, Carlson took 11th in 2011 with a time of 2:17.58. The semifinals are scheduled for 4:15 pm EST on Friday, March 2. Should Carlson advance to the finals, she would run for the national title on Saturday, March 3, at 1:30 pm EST.
Freshman Hannah Helker of Oklahoma Baptist is the top seed in the event, having posted a time of 2:09.85 at the Nebraska Tune-Up on Feb. 17 in Lincoln, Neb. The race will have a distinct Cascade Conference feel as three of the other 14 runners are from conference schools. Junia Limage of Concordia is seeded second, Alma Garcilazo of Eastern Oregon is seeded third and Kayloni Perry of College of Idaho is seeded eighth.
