May 30, 2004

Track Finishes with Five All-Americans

Birchard National Runner Up

Kearney, Neb. – Kansas senior Nate Wheat, Elkhorn junior Lesley Crutcher and Central City sophomore Shauna Birchard earned All-American honors on the final day  (Saturday) of led the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Walnut, Calif.

The duo joined Grand Island senior Scott Jorgensen (discus) and Bellwood junior Kate Semin (400) as Lopers to earn top honors this weekend.

Birchard had UNK’s top effort on the weekend as she was national runner up in the women’s shot put yesterday. She had a career-best toss of 47-9.25 to join Janet Boettcher as the only Loper women to have a first or second place showing in an NCAA Championship track event.

Rachel Goetz of Emporia State was the winner with a throw of 47-11.25

In the men’s shot put, UNK had three of the top 12 finishers, led by Wheat. In his final performance as a Loper, the Lakin., Kans., native placed third with a throw of 56-11.50. He earns All-American honors for the fourth time in his career.

Eustis sophomore Lance Pfeiffer came up one slot short of All-American honors as he placed ninth (55-2.75) with Kearney freshman Chase Beideck finishing 12^th (54-2.50).

Dan Soldner of Minnesota-Duluth won the shot put with a throw of 59-2.75.

Also, Lexington senior John Laux placed 12^th in the triple jump (48-1.25) while Bertrand junior Mike Ford was one of seven competitors to reach “no height” in the pole vault.

For the women, Semin placed fifth in the finals of the 400-meter dash in a school-record time of 54.54. The previous record of 54.60 was set 27 years ago by Danis Gerdes. Semin ran a 54.86 in Friday’s prelims.

Monya Thompson of Lincoln (Mo.) won this event in a quick time of 52.61.

Crutcher was in a five-way tie for fourth but earned five team points as she cleared 5-7.25 first. Nikki Hill of Clark (Ga.) won the event with a leap of 5-9.75.

Crutcher is the first Loper woman outdoor All-American in the high jump since 1982 (Donna Kuhlenengel).