Drury's Dolan Captures 5,000 Meters At GLVC Championships

By Chase Snider

CREATED Feb. 22, 2013

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 from an Drury Athletics press release:

INDIANAPOLIS - Erin Dolan's incredible story as a Drury athlete added another chapter on Friday, when the former swimming standout captured the 5,000 meters at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Dolan is a16-time swimming All-America who decided in her fifth year of eligibility this 2012-13 season to try cross country for the first time in the fall, and finished third in the GLVC and 43rd at the NCAA-II Championships.

At her first-ever appearance in a GLVC track meet, Dolan won the 5,000 in 17 minutes, 21.38 seconds, edging out runner-up Erika Wilson of Southern Indiana (17:22.68). Emily Frith of Bellarmine was third in 17.24:95.

It was a measure of revenge for Dolan, as Frith was second to Dolan's third at the GLVC Cross Country Championships last fall and 31st to Dolan's 43rd at the NCAA-II Cross Country Championships in Joplin last November.

Sari Higgins finished ninth in the 5000 in 18:14.86, giving the Panthers two Top 10 finishers in the longest race.

Also for the DU women on Friday, Laynie Timmons - also a Drury volleyball player - finished 11th in the long jump (4.92 meters) and the Drury 4000 distance medley relay squad finished fifth. 

For the DU men, Jamen Helton finished 17th, Aaron Tucker 20th and Ben Chapman 22nd in the 5000.

The Drury women have 14 points to rank seventh in the team standings after the opening day, with Indianapolis on top of the standings with 37 points and Lewis in second at 32.

The competition concludes on Saturday, when Dolan will compete in the 3,000 and the men's events will include the high jump, as Drury senior Tory Groover will be attempting to win his fourth GLVC indoor title in four tries. He's also swept the league's outdoor high jump championship each of his first three seasons.

First-Day Results