April 11, 2005

Track Competes at Concordia

Lopers Have Seven Winners

            Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track team had 21 top three finishes (11 women, 10 men) at the Concordia Invite Saturday in Seward.

            Seven Lopers, including four women, had first place efforts.

            Leading the way were throwers Amber Tiefenthaler, Shauna Birchard and Derek Frese.

            Tiefenthaler (Butte) and Birchard (Central City) went 1-2 in the hammer with Birchard winning the shot put (45-8) as well.

            Tiefenthaler provisionally qualified for the NCAA’s with a heave of 166-5 while Birchard improved her national standing in the event by having a top toss of 163-8.

            Frese improved his national standing in the discus by throwing it 175-11, good for a runner up finish. He also placed third in the hammer (163-5).

            His effort in the discus could rank second nationally next week. The only person to have a better throw this year is NW Missouri State’s Clint Prange, who won the event at Concordia (181-3).

            Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner joined the Lopers growing provisional list by qualifying in the triple jump. She placed second in the event with a top leap of 38-10.50, which should rank in the nation’s top five.

            Wagner also was second in the long jump (18-6), missing the provisional standard by two inches.

            Hooper native Cali Cordes joined the NCAA list as well as she placed fourth in the pole vault (11-6).

            Also on the women’s side, Bellwood senior Kate Semin won the 400 (57.61), Elkhorn senior Lesley Crutcher took home the gold in the high jump (5-6) and the 4 x 100 relay team won in a time of 48.87.

            Finishing second in their events were Imperial sophomore Michelle Dill (800/2:19.44) and Kearney freshman Jordan Pallas (10,000/39:33.50) while Minden junior Amber Burke was third at 200 meters (25.52).

            On the men’s side, Bertrand senior Mike Ford won the pole vault with a season-best effort of 16-7, which should help move him up on the national list.

            Also placing first was Kearney native Luke Garringer at 5,000 meters (15:35.20).

            Kearney freshman Ross Fellows was second in both the long (22-11) and triple (46-8.75) jumps, as was first year Loper Chris Vacha in the high jump (6-7) and Brock Steinbrink 1,500 meters (4:05.51).

            Finally, the 4 x 100 relay team was runner up (42.93) while freshman Michael Griess was third in the high jump (6-5), one spot behind Vacha.