Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: April 23, 2007

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/23/07)--

For the second consecutive week Concordia senior Heather Schuster (Grafton, N.D./Minto HS) was named the MIAC Women's Track Athlete of the Week it was announced on Tuesday. Schuster earned this week's award for her record-breaking performance at the Kansas Relays on Saturday.

The award is the third MIAC weekly honor for Schuster during the 2006-07 athletic season.

Schuster clocked a 2:11.79 in the 800 meters to break the old school mark of 2:11.96 set by Natalie Hanson last season. Schuster’s time automatically qualifies her for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Meet and is currently the third fastest time in the nation. Schuster has already provisionally qualified for the outdoor national meet in the 1500 as well.

In the race at the Kansas Relays, Schuster finished second in the women's college division. She was the only NCAA Division III athlete in the race which was won by one of the top middle distance runners from the University of Nebraska. Schuster beat out runners from the University of Illinois and host Kansas University.

Last week she won the award for finishing second in the 1500 meters at the Cobber Sunny Day Meet on Saturday in a national provisional qualifying time of 4:39.34. Her time was the tenth fastest in the NCAA.

Schuster now owns the fastest time in the conference in the 800 meters and the 1500 meters this season.