Liz Palkie made the most of her first visit ever to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships by placing second in the 800-meter run Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Mass.

The University of Minnesota Duluth freshman posted a personal-best time of 2:10.72 en route to landing All-American honors. Pittsburg State's Venessa Lee, the defending champion, won the event with a 2:08.77 clocking.

\"I thought my race went really well,\" said Palkie, a native of Carlton, Minn. who was the Bulldogs' only representative (male or female) at the NCAA II indoors. \"I was little tired from the day before but I did my best. I'm just so happy to be here -- it's been a ton of fun.\"

Palkie found herself in the fourth position after the first lap and managed to work her way into the third place spot for the second and third laps.

\"On the last lap I kicked as hard and as I could and I managed to finish in second with the first place runner a few seconds ahead of me,\" Palkie said.