The 2004 women’s track and field team had an unprecedented success, going from a program that was perennially near the bottom of the conference, to one that was the dominant squad in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Along the way, the team was ranked in the Top 25 UTSCA National Power Rankings (indoor and outdoor), became HCAC team champions, won the Defiance College Yellow Jacket Invitational (outdoor) and defeated all the Division III teams at the Vanderbilt Spring Classic. Ten athletes still hold outdoor school records.

Seven event titles were won at the HCAC championships. Rita (Muether ‘06) Oakleaf was named HCAC Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete, Cindy Allan ‘07 earned HCAC Most Outstanding Female Freshman Athlete honors and Nate Smith was named HCAC Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year.

This team holds the only women’s track and field conference championship in school history.