March 10, 2004

Wheat Leads Track to NCAA's

Lopers Sending 11 Individuals

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney track team left early this morning for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which take place Friday and Saturday in Boston at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

            Seven men and four women will represent UNK in this year's event. Senior Derek Bailey, junior Amber Tiefenthaler and sophomore Lance Pfeiffer look to repeat as All-Americans while senior Nate Wheat is among the favorites in the shot put.

            Wheat (Lakin, Kans.) placed third in the shot at the 2002 NCAA's and the redshirted last indoor season. He currently ranks second in the nation in the event with a school-record toss of 58-11.25. Only Cal State Bakersfield's Chris Figures has a better throw (60-5).

            Defending national champion Tony Thompson of CSUB is out with injury and will not compete in the meet. His best toss this year was an even 59-0.

            Ivan Ivanov ('96 3,000 steeplechase) and Janet Boettcher ('99 weight throw; '01 hammer) are the only Lopers to win national titles in track at the NCAA Division II level

            The schedule of events is below. Complete information can be found at www.ecac.org.