TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - National championships in the triple jump and the 4x400-meter relay propelled the Wartburg women to the school's first NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field championship Saturday.

A school-record 39-foot, 6-inch triple jump by senior and former Waterloo West star Akeya Aimable produced the Knights' first championship. Then in the final event of the day, the quartet of juniors Hannah Baker (Keota) and Chelsey Jacobs (Allison), freshman Nevada Morrison (Chicago) and senior Kelsey Steffens clinched the title with a first-place run.

Wartburg finished with 51 points while Wisconsin-La Crosse was second with 41.5.

In the men's division, UW-La Crosse and Wisconsin-Oshkosh tied for the title. La Crosse earned its eighth men's national championship in the past nine seasons, while conference foe Oshkosh captured its first team national title as each squad tallied 32 points.

It was the first shared team championship in the history of Division III track and field.

Going into the 4x400, Wartburg held a slim, half-point lead with teams from both schools in the final event.

Morrison got a strong opening leg, giving the baton to Steffens in second position. Steffens gained the lead at the turn of the last lap, and the lead grew between the tandem of Jacobs and Baker. Baker crossed the finish line, arms raised, to complete the winning time of 3:50.1.

In her final jump of the meet, Aimable hit her record and knocked LaCrosse's standout and eventual Athlete of the Meet Caitlin Schetter out of first place.

"I just started thinking about what (assistant coach Dave) Sage told me," Aimable said. "He told me to have myself thinking about winning it. So, I went for it on that jump, and it worked out."

This was the first year the former Wahawk has competed in the triple jump. In fact, she took up the event just two months ago.

"Coach Sage told me I was a natural," she said. "It didn't take too long to get comfortable with it."

Head coach Marcus Newsom, who has now seen his women's program win an outdoor title in 2005 and this indoor championship, gave credit to everyone on the school's indoor team.

"This isn't just about the group that competed here," he said. "This is also about the team back at the college, some of whom drove out here to watch their teammates. That is what is so great about Wartburg track and field. It's the family aspect.

"Every one of these young ladies contributed to this," he added. "It was a great effort."

Earlier in the meet, the distance medley team of juniors Amanda and Jennifer Kuiken of Fairfield and Jenny Kordick of Truro and freshman Audrey Weidman of Council Bluffs placed third,

Former Cedar Falls standout Faith Burt was one of two freshmen to earn fourth-place finishes. Burt earned All-American honors in the 55 while Sarah Hoffman of Farley was fourth in the shot put.

Baker was second in the 400 while Morrison was fourth and Kordick sixth.

"As a team, they really wanted this," noted Newsom, "Last year, we were the runners-up, as we were in 2005. This was just a great team effort."

Thursday night, Newsome was named Central Region women's Coach of the Year. The award is the 11th during Newsom's outstanding career at the helm of the Knights.

Senior Brian Chenoweth of Geneseo, Ill., finished 11th in the men's 5,000 in a time of 14:43.68.

There will be a reception honoring Newsom and his teams at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Joe's Knight Hawk. A short program featuring Newsom and a number of his athletes will be held at 6:15. and the public is invited to attend.