January 31, 2004

Wheat, Hawkins Lead Track

Lopers Win 12 Events at Home

            Kearney, NE – Paced by school record performances by senior Nate Wheat and freshman Kellie Hawkins, the Nebraska-Kearney track team won 12 events (seven women, five men) in its own Charlie Foster Classic Saturday in Cushing Coliseum.

            The non-team scoring also event featured Fort Hays State, Hastings, Doane, York and Bethel (Kans.).

            A two-time All-American from Lakin, Kans., Wheat once again shattered his own school mark in the shot put. Coming into today's meet with the best throw in Division II this year(56-10), Wheat bested that effort by over two feet as he won with a toss of 58-11.25.

            UNK placed 1-6 in event with the next five finishers all tossing the shot at least 50 feet. Kearney freshman Chase Beideck (54-11.25) was runner up to Wheat with Eustis sophomore Lance Pfeiffer coming in third (53-8).

            Hawkins, a Kearney High graduate, broke Jana Marco's three-year old school record in the pole vault (11-0) with an effort of 11-1. Earlier this year in the Blue-Gold meet, Hawkins went
11-0.

            On the track for the UNK women, Hildreth senior Kathryn Alt (800/2:20.30), Lexington junior Andrea Andersen (600 yard/1:29.36), Wyoming junior Laura Emmerich (mile/5:27.93) and Bellwood junior Kate Semin (200/25.73) each won their respective event. The 4 x 400 relay team also captured the gold in a time of 4:05.00.

            Central City sophomore Shauna Birchard was the final UNK woman to win, placing first in the shot put (45-8.75). The team also had four second place efforts, including two by Minden sophomore Amber Burke (55 and 200 dashes).

            Besides the dominance in the shot put, the UNK men saw Walthill junior Derek Frese win the weight throw with a heave of 56-10. That makes him a NCAA provisional qualifier in the event, joining Grand Island senior Scott Jorgensen.

            Lexington senior John Laux joined Frese as a provisional qualifier as his winning effort in the triple jump (47-1.50) was just over the needed mark. Kansas senior Skyler Price (46-9.25) was second to Laux.

            Also brining home the gold was Grand Island senior Clark Spanel (long jump/22-4) and Ansley senior Derek Bailey (55 hurdles/7.60). Bailey's hurdle time also provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA's. In addition, he was runner up in the high jump with a leap of 6-6.

            UNK heads to Crete next Saturday for the Doane Tiger Classic.