Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: April 4

ST. PAUL, Minn. (4/04/06)-- Concordia senior track standout athlete Natalie Hanson (Rogers, Minn./Elk River HS) was named the MIAC Track Athlete of the Week for her two-win performance at the St. John's Invitational on Saturday. It is the first time in her career that she has won the award.

Hanson captured the honor by pulling off the rare double win in the 5000 meters and the pole vault. Both of her winning marks were also in the top ten in program history.

In the 5000 meters, she broke away from the pack at the 1200-meter mark and coasted to the victory. She finished with a time of 18:04.68 to win the race by over 32 seconds. Her winning time is also the fourth fastest in school history.

She then went on to capture the pole vault with a height of 10-6. She was the only competitor in the field to break the 10-foot barrier on a day that was not conducive to top-flight pole vaulting marks. Her height ties the fifth best mark in school history.