BELOIT, Wis. -- Cristyn Oliver raced to the title in the 1,500 meters Friday to lead the Lawrence University track and field teams at the Midwest Conference Championships.
    Oliver ran to victory on the Strong Stadium track in 4:47.13 and beat Madeline Morland of Lake Forest College, who was second in 4:49.08. It was the fifth Midwest Conference track title of Oliver's career. She won the 5,000 outdoors in 2021 and took titles in the mile, 3,000 and distance medley relay indoors earlier this year.
    Lawrence had two runners place in the 10,000 as Aasma Haider grabbed fourth place in 44:24.22, and Rain Orsi raced to eighth in 49:48.37. Lawrence's other placewinner was Grace Fox, who took sixth in the javelin with a throw of 100 feet, 1 inch.
    Lawrence is fifth in the team standings with 19 points, and Monmouth College is first at 58.5.
    On the men's side, Greyson Schneider was the top finisher for the Vikings as he took third in the pole vault with a height of 13-7.25. 
    Zach Burke placed in a pair of field events for the Vikings. Burke took eighth in the discus with a throw of 121-4 and was eighth in the hammer throw with a heave of 131-4.
    David Benjamin grabbed eighth in the long jump with a distance of 20-5. 
    Billy Daniels placed seventh in the 10,000 with a time of 36:15.74.
    The Lawrence men are in seventh place with 11 points after the first day of competition. Monmouth has the lead with 60 points.
    The championships finish up on Saturday.