February 6, 2005

Relay Record Falls

Track Adds Two to NCAA List

            Kearney, Neb. –   The Nebraska-Kearney track team had 22 top three finishes (14 women, 8 men) at the Fred Beile Track Classic Saturday in Crete.

            In addition, both distance medley relay teams ran at the Frank Seveigne Husker Invite in Lincoln Saturday against Division I competition.

            At Doane, adding their names to the NCAA provisional list were Kansas junior Kellen Jacobs (weight throw) and Marshland junior Randi Furman (55 dash).

            Also, Hooper junior Cali Cordes went 11-6 in the pole vault for the second straight week, tying her own school record.

            At UNL, the women's team of seniors Andrea Andersen (Lexington) and Denise Kolar (Springfield), along with freshmen Jordan Pallas (Kearney) and Michelle Dill (Imperial), ran a 12:09.54 to break a 19-year old school record.

            The previous standard was set at the 1986 NAIA National Championships. The team of Deb and Donna Spickelmier, Barb Herbek and Tatia Harris won the national title with a 12:10.77 effort.

            The Lopers placed fifth out of six teams in Lincoln, easily finishing ahead of Drake (12:43.10) and just behind Kansas (12:08.81) and Wyoming (12:08.30).

            The time is also the third fastest in the nation this year.

            The men's relay team, made up of Kearney High grads Luke Garringer, Nolan Little, Brock Steinbrink and Matt Bjornsen, improved their national standing by running a 10:13.42.

            The team came into the week ranked 18^th nationally in the event (10:18.99). Their new time could vault them into the Top 10.

            Furman was one of three Loper winners at Doane, running a 7.23 in the 55. Minden junior Amber Burke (7.44) was third.

            Bellwood senior Kate Semin won the 200 (26.40) with Burke (27.01) finishing third in this event as well. 

            Also on the track the 4 x 800 relay team -- seniors Laura Emmerich and Andrea Herndon and freshmen Jennifer Fritz and Anne McGovern -- placed second in a time of 10:12.08.

            Cordes, based on judge's decision, was third in the pole vault while Elkhorn senior Lesley Crutcher tied her season high (5-6) in the high jump and tied for second, based on judge's decision.

            Finally, Central City junior Shanua Birchard (44-7) and Red Cloud junior Amber Tiedman (43-6) went 1-2 in the shot with Birchard finishing runner up in the weigh throw (53-4).

            On the men's side, Walthill senior Derek Frese (59-1) and Jacobs (56-2.50) went 2-3 in the weight throw.

            Also finishing second were Bertrand senior Mike Ford in the pole vault (15-3), Brady junior Craig O'Dell in the 55 hurdles (7.65), Iowa freshman Brett Kluever in the 800 (2:02.76) and the 4 x 400 relay team of O'Dell, Norfolk senior Ryan Brown, Lincoln junior Cory Eastin and Maxwell freshman Josh Hofer (3:29.10).

            UNK is at the Prairie Wolf Invite in Lincoln next Friday.