GRINNELL, Iowa – The Lawrence University women's track and field team opened competition Friday at the Midwest Conference Indoor Championships with two runner-up finishes, a program record performance, and multiple athletes advancing to Saturday finals.

Lillian Courtnage-Dyke delivered one of the top performances of Day 1 in the 5000 meters, placing second in 17:53.41. In the process, she broke her own Lawrence program record that she set just two weeks ago, continuing her remarkable season and earning eight team points.

Clara Lyford added another podium finish in the pole vault, clearing 2.75 meters to claim second place and eight more points for the Vikings.

Mila Westra contributed in the mile with a fifth-place finish in 5:14.96 to score four points.

In the high jump, Ashlee Long and Jacqui Malm tied for seventh after each cleared 1.40 meters.

On the track, the sprint medley relay team of Elena Hartung, Jorja Miller, Gaby Skorczewski, and Laura Henze placed sixth in 4:24.97, while the 4x200 relay quartet of Gisselle Reyes, Miller, Izzy Baumgardt, and Morgan Cross also finished sixth in 1:52.29.

Lawrence advanced three athletes into Saturday finals. Hartung and Baumgardt qualified in the 60-meter hurdles, and Reyes advanced in the 60-meter dash.

After the opening day of competition, the Lawrence women sit 6th in the team standings with 29 points heading into Saturday's finals.