March 13, 2004
Track Has Six All-Americans
Wheat Places Third in Shot
Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track team had six All-Americans at the NCAA Division II Championships this weekend in Boston, Mass.
Repeating as All-Americans were seniors Derek Bailey (high jump) and Nate Wheat (shot put) with senior John Laux (triple jump), juniors Kate Semin (400) and Derek Frese (35 lbs. weight throw) and sophomore Shauna Birchard (20 lbs. weight throw) earning top honors for the first time.
Wheat (Lakin, Kans.) had UNK’s top finish at the meet as he was third in the shot. Two years ago, he also was third in the event. Wheat redshirted last indoor season.
Today, Wheat had a top throw of 57-2.25. Placing ahead of him were Dan Soldner of Minnesota-Duluth (58-6) and national champ Chris Figuers of Cal State Bakersfield (61-6.25).
Also competing in the shot were Eustis sophomore Lance Pfeiffer (11th/52-3.75) and Kearney freshman Chase Beideck (12th/51-1.75).
After placing 15th in the long jump (21-10.25) Friday, Laux rebounded by jumping 47-5 in the triple jump to place 8th and earn All-American accolades.
Culbertson freshman Sara Wagner also qualified in both the long and triple jumps. She was ninth in the triple jump (37-10.50), just one spot shy of All-American honors, and 12th in the long (17-4).
Semin (Bellwood) qualified for the event finals in today’s 400 by running a 55.72 last night. Today she ran a 55.63 to finish sixth.
Also competing today where Butte junior Amber Tiefenthalter in the weight throw (11th/50-8.25) and Kearney sophomore Drew Tonniges in the 5,000 meter run (11th/14:34.66).
On Friday, Bailey (Ansley) finished sixth in the high jump with a top effort of 6-8.75. Frese (Walthill) also was sixth in his event, tossing the weight 58-2.
Finally, Birchard placed, what else, sixth with a top toss of 45-5.75.
UNK begins the outdoor season March 27th with its own open at Kearney High.
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |