SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Evergreen State College runner Alauna Carstens (Jr.) won the women's race at the NAIA Marathon Classic on Sunday, Dec. 8. The NAIA Marathon Classic was a part of the California International Marathon. Forty-six competitors finished the women's 26-mile, 385-yard race.
Carstens achieved a time of 2:47:04 (2 hours, 47 minutes, 4 seconds) to become the NAIA Marathon Champion and earn All-America status. She registered the second-fastest time recorded in the 44-year history of NAIA women's marathon competition. The time also set an Evergreen record and a Cascade Collegiate Conference record. The previous Evergreen record was 3:33:00 by Bonnie McReynolds at the NAIA District Championships in Seaside, Oregon, in 1988.
Placing second in the women's marathon was Madison Nelson from Bellevue University (Neb.), who finished the course in 2:53:10, as Carstens won by six minutes and six seconds. Nina Daman of Campbellsville University (Ky.) was third in 2:55:11 and Carlyn Bobo from Montreat College (N.C.) was fourth at 2:58:26.
Trinity Smith from Midway University (Ky.) placed fifth two seconds later at 2:58:28. Abby Gentz of Huntington University (Ind.) was sixth in 3:00:45. Gentz completed the race three seconds in front of Tiffany Terry from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.), who took seventh place in 3:00:48. Brooke Beaucaire from Dakota State University (S.D). was eighth at 3:04:03.
"Taking it all in -- I enjoyed every moment, even the difficult ones," Carstens noted. "I'm proud to say that the California International Marathon was my first marathon! Max Baeder and I worked hard to qualify for the CIM, and to see it all pay off with two All-American spots is awesome."
The Evergreen coaches were thrilled with Carstens' efforts at the NAIA Marathon Classic and as she prepared for the event in recent months.
"Alauna running the second-fastest marathon in NAIA history was just mind blowing!," Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson commented.
"The progress Alauna has made in the 16 months since she joined the team has been remarkable," Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett noted. "We knew she had a lot more to achieve in running, and today she became an NAIA Marathon Champion."
Also competing for Evergreen at the NAIA Marathon Classic was Max Baeder (So.), who placed eighth in the men's race. Baeder ran the marathon in 2:30:24, as he set an Evergreen record. He received All-America status. The previous top time for a Geoduck runner in a men's marathon was set by Jim Schultz at 2:38:23 in 1987 during the NAIA District Championships.
"Max has been working tremendously hard over the past few months," Pearson said. "Watching him place eighth, breaking our school record by over eight minutes, was awesome!"
"Seeing Max attain All-American was an incredible thing," said Burnett. "The program is moving in the right direction, and we are so proud!"