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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2002
| Sprints/Hurdles | Jumps/Pole Vault | Distance | Throws |
The Nebraska-Kearney women's track team enters the 2002 season with
a goal of continued top finishes at the RMAC meets. The Lopers have been
runner up at the last two indoor meets and have finished fourth at the
past seven outdoor meets.
"Our goal, for both teams, is to continue to be a dominant
force during the indoor season and then get our first outdoor title. It
may not happen this year but we think it soon will," head coach Andy
Meyer said.
Like the men's squad, the Loper women have lost several
All-Americans to graduation. Janet Boettcher was a two-time national
champion and was a big time point producer in several throwing events
while Renee Bergmeier (jumps) and Jana Marco (pole vault) were among the
best in the RMAC.
"It was a given Janet would do something great in a event
every day. She was someone you could always depend on," Meyer said.
"We may have only four seniors this year but they are good ones. I
think all four have a good shot at qualifying for nationals."
The freshmen class should pay immediate dividends, much like the
men's freshman class did a year ago.
"We had a good recruiting year, bringing in some people in
events we haven't been that strong in recently. We still don't have the
numbers we want but we're getting there. We think this group can score
some points at the conference meet," Meyer said.
Combining these young stars with the three returning national
qualifiers means the Lopers will still be a player on the national scene.
"Our representation at the NCAA meet will be as good as ever.
We have a handful of women that have a good shot at making it," Meyer
said. "We just don't know what the other teams around the league
have."
One of the strongest areas for the Lopers in the past few season
has been in the jumps. That will not change in 2002. Senior Leah Lewis has
been an All-American several times in her career and won both triple jump
titles (39-3, indoor; 38-4.5, outdoor) at the RMAC meets last year. At the
NCAA Outdoor Championships, she placed eighth, earning All-American
honors.
Lewis is also the Lopers best in the high jump. She placed fourth
at the RMAC outdoor meet with a leap of 5-1.
Junior Jessica Reinsch had a breakthrough sophomore campaign as she
was the RMAC indoor long jump champion. She leaped an incredible 19-9,
thus qualifying for her first NCAA meet. She also is one of the league's
best in the heptathlon, where she was runner up last year with 4,076
points.
UNK lost its top four pole vaulters, including Sharp who was the
RMAC champion. ### is expected to take over in this area.
Thanks to some speedy freshman, Meyer thinks UNK can make some
headway in sprint events and get some much needed points in these events.
Freshmen Andrea Anderson, Amanda Maryott and Katie Semin should produce
immediate results. Anderson, due to injury, will have to redshirt during
the indoor season.
"They will all do well. Having Amanda and Katie come aboard
will help in the sprints," Meyer said.
Sophomore Angela Sorenson is back after having the Lopers best
indoor times in the 55 meter and 400 meter dashes. Senior Torri Walford
has been a team captain since her sophomore season and is one of the
team's best in the hurdles. She had top five finishes at the RMAC outdoor
meet last year.
"Torri hasn't made it to the NCAA's but has been very close.
She trained really hard this fall and I expect her to have a big senior
season," Meyer said.
Reinsch will also be a factor in the hurdles. She was runner up
(14.74) in the 100 meter high hurdles at the RMAC outdoor meet.
The Loper cross country team had one of its best seasons ever this
past fall and that should result in good things for the track season.
While it will be tough to crack the Adams State-Western State strangle
hold, UNK has the runners to score some points here and there.
"Getting some points in distance events can be done. We have
some depth and didn't lose much from last year's team," Meyer said.
Junior Elizabeth Goltz had a top five finish in the 10,000 meter
run at the RMAC outdoor meet and teams with cross country leader Stephanie
Schneider to form a strong veteran corps. Freshman Laura Emmerich, Laura
Ford and Kelly Throener were impressive during the cross country season
and should do well in their first track season.
Yes, Janet Boettcher is gone, taking with her countless RMAC
records and school records, along with fellow NCAA qualifier Korina Hunter
(javelin). But national qualifier Karen Koch (discus) is back and leads a
deep group of UNK throwers.
Koch placed third in the discus at the RMAC meet (127-7) and made
the NCAA's for the first time in her career. Junior Timmery Nielsen was a
provisional qualifier during the indoor season in the weight throw. She
placed 3rd in the RMAC with a toss of 50-2.50.
Senior Jenny Rutar, juniors Leanne Fritsche and Megan Holmes and
sophomores Lisa Calleroz and Jennifer Day make this one of the deepest
areas on the team.
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |
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University of Nebraska at Kearney
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