March 12, 2005

Semin Leads Track at NCAA's

Four Lopes Compete on First Day

            Kearney, Neb. –  At the first day of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, Bellwood senior Kate Semin ran a season-best time of 56.89 in the 400 meter dash but it wasn't enough to qualify for the event finals.

            Four of the Lopers' nine qualifiers competed today. A top eight finish in an individual event is good for All-American honors.

            Semin came into the meet with the 18^th fastest time in the country (57.04). She placed fourth in her preliminary heat with her time being the 14^th fastest overall.

            The eighth and final spot in the finals was claimed by Zakiya Ingraham of St. Paul's (N.C.), who ran a 56.71. Monya Thompson of Lincoln (Mo.) had the fastest prelim time at 54.59.

            Also on the women's side, Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner placed 10^th in the long jump (18-3.25). She came into the meet ranked 10^th nationally.

            UNO's Foluso Makinde (20-0.50) and Anastasia Kyvelidou (19-9.75) went 1-2 in the event.

            In the pole vault, junior Cali Cordes  (Hooper) placed 11^th with a top effort of 11-9.75. Amanda Frame of Minnesota State-Mankato won the national title with a meet record of 13-1.50.

            On the men's side, Kearney redshirt freshman Ross Fellows finished 15^th with a leap of 21-1.25. Yevgen Pashchenko of Abilene Christian won the event with a jump of 24-11.75.

            Wagner and Fellows will both compete in the triple jump tomorrow while four other Lopers will compete in the meet for the first time.