December 10, 2004

Track Has Strong First Meet

Ford Goes High in the Pole Vault

            Kearney, Neb. –   The Nebraska-Kearney track team began the 2004-05 season by winning 19 events (12 women, 7 men) and having five NCAA provisional efforts in its own UNK Pre-Holiday Open Friday night at Cushing Coliseum.

            Fort Hays State and Concordia also participated in the meet.

            Bertrand senior Mike Ford led the Lopers by smashing his own school record in the pole vault, going an impressive 16-5.50. This past February, he went 16-0.25 to set the UNK standard.

            The effort also was a foot more then the NCAA provisional height.

            Eustis junior Lance Pfeiffer, who is redshirting this year, won the shot put by nearly six inches with a toss of 58-0.50. Head coach Andy Meyer, competing unattached, was runner up in the event (52-11).

            The huge throw is just three inches short of the school record and would automatically qualify him for the NCAA Championships.

            Also getting provisional efforts in the meet were Walthill senior Derek Frese in the 35 lbs. weight throw, juniors Shauna Birchard (Central City) and Carli Seeba (Bellevue) in the shot put and Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner in the long jump.

            Three Lopers – Bellwood senior Kate Semin (25.42), Minden junior Amber Burke (25.94) and Marshald junior Randi Furman (26.15) -- met the mark in the women’s 200 but that event may not be run at the NCAA’s this year. 

            Frese had a personal-best toss of 60-11 to dominate the weight throw while Birchard (47-11.50) and Seeba (43-2) went 1-2 in the shot. Finally, Wagner (18-6-75) edged former Loper All-American Jessica Reinsch (18-5.25) to win the long jump.

            Wagner also won the triple jump (37-4.50) while Birchard was a double winner as well, placing first in the 20 lbs. weight throw (51-11.50).

            On the men’s side, Kearney freshman Ross Fellows took home the gold in both the long (22-5) and triple (46-1.75) jumps. Also, Brady junior Craig O’Dell won the 55 dash (7.73) and helped the 4 x 400 relay team place first in a time of 3:29.31

            Newcomers to placed second in an event included Ken Pewett (Milford) in the 55 (6.60), Josh Hofer (Maxwell) in the 400 (53.03), Seth Yount (Fremont) in the long jump (21-0.75) and Brett Shipp (DeWitt) in the triple jump (45-5.50).