Klimek snares ninth in NCAA 5,000

May 23, 2009

MARIETTA, Ohio - Pacing herself through a fast race in excessive heat, Linfield distance star Marci Klimek (Jr., Phoenix, Ore.) turned in one of her top performances of the season Saturday in the women’s 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior Ayla Mitchell raced to the title in a stadium-record time of 17:14.52, despite temperatures hovering near the 90-degree mark.

Klimek fought through the hot and humid conditions to grab ninth place in a time of 17:35.13, finishing well ahead of three Northwest Conference rivals from Willamette. The junior from Phoenix High School crossed the finish line with a nearly nine-second advantage over WU’s Kimber Mattox, who outdueled Klimek for the Northwest Conference title in the same event last month in Forest Grove.

On Thursday, Klimek placed ninth at the NCAA Championships in the 10,000. Her efforts helped Linfield place 41st in the team standings.

Enjoying her best competitive season as a collegian, Klimek eclipsed the 13-year-old Linfield record in the 5,000, racing to a 17:13.74 mark at the Willamette Invitational in early April.

Marci Klimek
Top finisher from NWC