FINAL RESULTS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Runa Falch and Henrik Holmberg both earned All-America honors with their performances on Saturday. Falch placed third in the women's 3,000-meter run and Henrik Holmberg finished in eighth completing the final three events of the heptathlon on Saturday morning.
“[Falch] gave it her all,” said head coach
Tracy Hellman. “She ran tactically sound and put herself where she needed to be.”
Falch collected her second All-America accolades of the NCAA Championships with her third-place time in the 3,000-meter run. Falch clocked a 9:43.06 to go along with her All-American honors from last night's distance medley relay eighth-place finish.
“[Her performance] shows how tough she is,” Hellman said. “She missed the conference meet because of the injury and then is able to bounce back and finish third in the nation.”
Kristin Brondbo also competed in the 3,000-meter run and placed 16th with a 10:03.07 time. Brondbo was named an All-American after her performance in the DMR on day one.
Holmberg entered day two of the heptathlon in sixth place, but slipped two spots after the three events on day two. Holmberg finished with 5,176 points, just nine behind seventh.
"Henrik had a great multi," Hellman said. "It was great to see him attain his first All-American award. It is very deserving for all the work that he puts in."
To open day two Holmberg ran a personal-best 8.55-second 60-meter hurdles vaulting him into fifth place. That fifth-place appearance wouldn't last as Holmberg struggled in the pole vault, collecting 590 points by clearing 3.90 meters.
Entering the 1,000-meter run in eighth place, Holmberg held strong by placing eighth in the 1k (2:48.13) and earned All-America honors by finishing eighth overall.
Also competing for the Vikings, high jumper Katie Guse opened the competition at 1.60 meters but could not clear it in three attempts.
"Although Katie missed on her attempts in the high jump," Hellman said, "it is still a great accomplishment to make the national indoor [meet]. This will be a great springboard for the outdoor season."
The Vikings now turn their focus to the outdoor track and field season beginning with the Wayne State Wildcat Classic on March 30.
