February 29, 2008

Track Teams 2nd, 3rd After First Day of RMAC's

Dring, Huff Long Jump Champs; Short Handed Sprinters Still Strong

     Kearney, Neb. – Juniors Kelli Dring and Spencer Huff each won long jump titles to lead the Nebraska-Kearney track and field teams on the first day of the 2008 RMAC Indoor Championships in Cushing Coliseum.

      In the team race, the Loper men are second with 48 points while the women are third at 37 points. Western State leads a six-team men's race (67) and an eight-team women's race (64.50). Adams State (59) is runner up on the women's side at this point. 

      On the women's side, UNK scored 19 points in the long jump, led by Dring with a season-best leap of 19-2.50. She becomes the first Loper woman to win this event at this meet since Jessica Reinsch in 2002.

      Sophomore Jennifer Fritson also was big here, jumping 17-11.50 to finish third and almost reach the NCAA provisional standard. The final scorer was Curtis freshman Heather Wills (17-5.50) in sixth place.

      In the weight throw, UNK scored a total six points, led by fifth place finisher Julie Davis (47-9.75). Finally, York senior Jacquelyn Dibbern placed sixth at 5,000 meters (18:08.57) with Falls City freshman Emma Kelly placing sixth in the pentathlon (2,592 points).

      Tomorrow, UNK will have no qualifiers in the 60, 200 or 400 meter dashes. However, Dring (9.03) and Sidney freshman Jessie Golden (9.23) did make the top eight in the 60 hurdles.

      The long jump was also a big point producer -- 17 -- for the men. Huff went 24-3.50 to just miss his school-record mark of 24-4.25, set two weeks ago at the UNK All-Comer. He is the first Loper to win this event at this meet since the late Clark Spanel in 2001.

      Also, Kearney senior Ross Fellows had a season-best 23-5.25 to finish fourth with Fremont senior Seth Yount three spots back thanks to a 23-2.50.

      As always, UNK was successful in the throws, having four in the top eight tonight in the weight throw (14 team points). Kansas sophomore Brandon Karlin led the way, finishing runner up (57-6.50) to Matt Gersick of Adams State (58-1.25).

      The third big event for the Lopers came in the pole vault where three placed in the top seven., led by a runner up effort from Alliance senior Andy Brown (14-11).

      Finally, despite missing speedsters Darrel Branz and Jake Wissing due to injury, UNK qualified four in the 200, three in the 400 and two at 60 meters. North Platte senior Josh Hofer leads this big group, running the second best time in the 400 (50.13).

      In action not involving UNK, freshman sensation Indria Spence of Adams broke RMAC and arena records at 60 meters (7.61) and in the 60 hurdles (8.57). On the men's side, Adams' Corey Lenaris broke the RMAC record at 60 meters (6.77).

      The meet begins tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and should wrap up around 3:30 p.m.