March 2, 2004
Track to Send 11 to NCAA's
Next Weekend in Boston
Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney track team will send seven men and four women to the NCAA Championships next weekend in Boston, Mass.
The final qualifying list was released this morning. Roughly the top 12 efforts in each event make it to the NCAA's. A top eight finish at the meet earns the athlete All-American honors.
Among the Loper qualifiers are senior John Laux and freshman Sara Wagner, who will each compete in the long and triple jumps.
Laux recently won his third straight RMAC triple jump title and will be competing at the meet for the second straight year. He placed 10th in the triple jump last March.
Meanwhile, Wagner has already made a splash in her first year as a Loper. At the RMAC meet, she won the triple jump and placed second in the long jump.
Senior Nate Wheat ranks second nationally in the shot (58-11.25) and could become just the third Loper to win a national title at the NCAA Division II level. He placed third in the shot at the 2002 NCAA's before redshirting last year.
Senior Derek Bailey, junior Amber Tiefenthaler and sophomore Lance Pfeiffer will each look to repeat as All-Americans.
The complete list is at www.ncaachampionships.com.
Men
Derek Bailey, Sr., Berwyn, High Jump (10th, 6-10.50)
Chase Beideck, Fr., Kearney, Shot Put (11th, 54-11.25)
Derek Frese, Jr., Walthill, Weight Throw (10th, 59-1)
John Laux, Sr., Lexington, Long Jump (14th, 23-8.50)
John Laux, Sr., Lexington, Triple Jump (5th, 49-11.25)
Lance Pfeiffer, So., Eustis, Shot Put (6th, 55-11.50)
Drew Tonniges, So., Kearney 5,000 (11th, 14:31.12)
Nate Wheat, Sr., Lakin, Kans., Shot Put (2nd, 58-11.25)
Women
Shauna Birchard, So., Central City, Shot Put (8th, 46-6)
Kate Semin, Jr., Bellwood, 400 (5th, 55.58)
Amber Tiefenthaler, Jr., Butte, Weight Throw (9th, 55-10)
Sara Wagner, Fr., Culbertson, Long Jump (8th, 19-4.50)
Sara Wagner, Fr., Culbertson, Triple Jump (11th, 38-11.50)
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |