May 12, 2005

Track Finishes 2^nd, 4th at RMAC's

Wagner Sets Record; Freshmen Men Impressive

            Kearney, Neb. –   The Nebraska-Kearney track teams finished second (women) and fourth (men) at the 2005 RMAC Outdoor Championships in Alamosa, Colo.

            On the women's side, Adams State repeated as champions by scoring a meet-record 263 points. The Lopers were second (200) for the second straight year with Fort Hays State a distant third (113.50).

            Adams also claimed the men's title with a record 250 points. Hays was second (197.50), Western third (130) and then the Lopers (105.50).

            After having three champions yesterday, UNK had two more today as Bellwood senior Kate Semin won the 400 for the second straight year (57.73) and Eustis sophomore Mike Strong claimed the shot put title (52-1).

            UNK was second three times on Monday and had seven more runner up finishes today.

            On the women's side, the list includes Hooper senior Cali Cordes in the pole vault (11-0.25), Red Cloud junior Amber Tiedeman in the shot put (48-1.50) and Culbertson sophomore Sara Wagner in the triple jump (40-9).

            Wagner's leap broke Leah Lewis school-record (40-1.50) but Kearney Catholic grad Emily Volkmer, now at Chadron State, won the title (41-9).

            Both women's relays teams finished second to Adams. The 4 x 100 squad (48.19) consisted of Cordes, Wayne senior Amanda Maryott, Minden junior Amber Burke and Marshland junior Randi Furman.

            Maryott, Semin, Lexington senior Andrea Andersen and Springfield senior Denise Kolar paced the 4 x 400 team (3:58.61).

            In distance events, Imperial freshman Michelle Dill was third at 800 meters (2:22.50) and Kearney freshman Jordan Pallas was fourth at 5,000 (19:54.47).

            Several Lopers did yeoman's work in the meet. Cordes scored in six events, Semin in five, Tiedeman in four and Central City junior Shauna Birchard in three.

            For the men, Kearney freshman Ross Fellows was second in the triple jump (47-3) after a fourth place effort in the long jump Monday.

            UNK had two other scorers in the shot besides Strong as Walthill senior Derek Frese was third (50-4) and Wauneta freshman Carson Watt eighth (43-1).

            Bertrand senior Mike Ford, tied for the national lead in the pole vault at 17-2.75, tied for third (15-8.25).

            UNK's freshmen made a statement at this meet as nine first year Lopers scored at least one team point.

            Besides Fellows and Watt, the lists includes Darrel Branz (York) and Brent Knust (Petersburg) in the 110 and 400 hurdles, Andrew Smith (Bartlett) in the decathlon and javelin and Seth Yount (Yuma, Colo.) in the long and triple jumps.

            Several Lopers will complete in "Last Chance" meets this weekend in Seward and Emporia, Kans.