Carleton College star distance runner Ruth Steinke (Lima, N.Y./ Honeoye Falls-Lima) continued her stellar junior campaign last weekend despite a step-up in competition. Steinke claimed a title in the 3,000-meter run and a runner-up finish in the 800-meter run at the Minnesota State-Mankato Open while competing against mostly NCAA Division II foes. For her performance, Steinke was honored Wednesday with her second-straight MIAC Women’s Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Week award.

Steinke’s big weekend started Friday with a win in the 3k race. Not only was her time of 10:06.69 good enough for first place, but it also ranks No. 1 in the MIAC this season and No. 6 in NCAA Division III. Saturday, Steinke had quite an encore as she finished second in the 800-meter run. Her time of 2:19.92 in the 800 is also a MIAC-best this season, and it ranks No. 22 in the nation. This season, Steinke also holds the MIAC’s top time in the mile (5:06.06) and the second-best time in the 1,000-meter run (3:03.76).

Not only has Steinke impressed in indoor track, she placed at the 2014 Division 3 Cross Country Championships and was named an All-American due to a 4th place finish. Her efforts led the Women’s Cross Country Team to a 14th place finish at the National meet.

The Knights will take this weekend off, then will hit the road next weekend in search of continued success when they travel to Waverly, Iowa, to compete in the Wartburg Select meet. The meet will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 8 a.m. Steinke and her teammates will get to enjoy a home-track advantage the following weekend when Carleton hosts the Meet of the Hearts in Northfield on Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m.