LA CROSSE, Wis. - First-year Ava Loftness (Prior Lake, Minn.) was the only competitor for the Gustavus track & field team at the UW-La Crosse Final Qualifier, attempting to improve her season-best mark of 11.25m to move into the conversation for an NCAA Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field National Championships. 

Loftness scratched on her first jump of the day, but used a second jump mark of 10.80m to earn three more jumps in finals, giving herself three more opportunities to continue her first indoor season with the Black and Gold for one more week. 

The Prior Lake native matched her mark from her second jump on her fourth, keeping her in eighth place. Loftness had her best jump of the day on her fifth attempt, getting to 11.02m. The fifth jump was her second best this season outside of the conference meet. 

Loftness did not top her season and personal best set at the MIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships last week. Loftness and senior Molly Liston (Richfield, Minn.) stay as hopefuls for the NCAA Championships, waiting for this weekend's results from around the country to see if they will be traveling to Birmingham, Alabama on March 13th and 14th to compete with the nation's best. 

Both track teams start their outdoor season on March 28th, traveling to Saint John's for the Optimistic Open.