February 26, 2005

Track Leads After First Day

Lopers Have Three Champions

            Kearney, Neb. –   The Nebraska-Kearney track teams lead after the first day of the 2005 RMAC Indoor Championships.

            The Loper women have scored 72 points in six events to hold a 16-point lead over Adams State while the UNK men have tallied 61 points in five events to lead the Grizzlies by eight points.

            On the women's side, Hooper junior Cali Cordes won the pentathlon in the morning (3,438 points) and then won the pole vault in the afternoon by going 12-2, break the field house record (12-0) and her own school record (12-0.75). The two wins gave UNK 20 team points.

            UNK picked up 11 more points in the vault as Mitchell sophomore Katie Schaneman (11-3.75) was runner up with Kearney senior Christy Perry sixth (9-9.75).

            The Lopers then scored 20 points in the weight throw as the team went 3rd-7th. Leading the way was Butte senior Amber Tiefenthaler (54-9.60).

            In the long jump, UNK scored 15 points with Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner placing third (18-5.50) to have the top finish.

            For the men, Bertrand senior Mike Ford won his second RMAC pole vault title (16-2) while the team scored 16 points in the long jump, paced by Kearney freshman Ross Fellows (3^rd/22-7.50).

            UNK tallied 30 points in the weight throw as Walthill senior Derek Frese won (62-1.50) and Kansas junior Kellen Jacobs was second (56-0.50).

            Several prelims were run today as well. On the women's side, UNK will have one in the 60 meter hurdle finals, three in the 60 dash, four in the 200 and five in the 400.

            The Loper men qualified two in the 200 dash  finals, two in the 400 and three in the 60 hurdles.

            The most exciting event of the day was the men's distance medley relay in which Adams State (10.00.38) edged Western State (10:00.39) in the final few steps of the race. Both squads shattered the previous meet record of 10:13.32, set by WSC in 2000.

            Complete teams standings are below. For complete results go to www.rmacsports.org or www.lopers.com

            The meet begins tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and should end around 4:00 p.m.