April 22, 2005

Ford Wins Vault at KU

Breaks Record for Third Time in a Week

            Kearney, Neb. –   For the third time this week, Bertrand senior Mike Ford has broken his own school record in the pole vault.

            Today at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Ford went 17-2.75 to win the event, beating out 27 other competitors. The group included individuals from Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State.

            Last Saturday at Emporia Sate, Ford went 17-0 and then, this past Tuesday at Hays, he cleared 17-1. His effort Tuesday and the one today are the best efforts in Division II this year.

            In the indoor season, Ford placed 3^rd at the NCAA Championships in the event by going 16-9.50. 

            Also today, juniors Randi Furman (Marshland) and Amber Burke (Minden) had season best efforts at 100 meters.

            In the preliminaries, featuring 44 competitors, Furman ran a 12.14 to place 15^th while Burke was right behind in 18^th place (12.19).

            Springfield senior Denise Kolar also ran well, placing 15^th (1:05.71) out of 31 in the 400 hurdles while the women's 4 x 200 relay team -- Furman, Burke, Hooper junior Cali Cordes and Grand Island freshman Lea Schneider -- was sixth out of 15 teams (1:45.06).

            In the high jump, Elkhorn senior Lesley Crutcher finished in a tie for 16^th place (5-1), Kearney freshman Ross Fellows was 18^th in the long jump (21-4.25) and Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner was 15^th in the long jump (18-1.75).

            On Thursday, Kearney senior Luke Garringer was third at 1,500 meters (4:04.52), Imperial freshman Michelle Dill was eighth  at 800 meters (2:18.87) and Kearney freshman Jordan Pallas was fourth at 3,000 meters (10:50.68).

            Some Lopers will compete at KU tomorrow with the rest of the team being at the Doane Relays.