May 6, 2008

Track Competes at Last Chance Events

Dibbern Moves Up

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track & field team had a select group of athletes compete in the Concordia Twilight Meet Friday in Seward and at the Nebraska Invitational Saturday in Lincoln.

      The goal was to improve national standing or get an NCAA provisional effort.

      York senior Jacquelyn Dibbern helped her cause the most by running a season-best 11:02.32 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase Friday in Seward. The time is just off Stephanie Schneider's school record (11:00.15), set in 2003.

      Dibbern's time will bump her from 18^th on the national list (11:11.75) to 13^th. The cutoff for the NCAA Championships is the top 16.

      Imperial junior Michelle Dill ran a season-best 4:36.09 in the 1,500 at UNL but the effort will only move her into the top 20 on the national list.

      The time does rank as the second fastest in Loper history, trailing only a 4:27.12 by Donna Spickelmier in 1987. The effort also helped Dill place third out of 16 runners and helped her beat five UNL 'Huskers and six runners from Iowa State.

      On the men's side at Concordia, Kansas sophomore Brandon Karlin was second in the hammer (180-11), Fairbury freshman Drew Onnen was runner up in the discus (159-4) and Kearney freshman Blake Millsap was second in the high jump (6-8).

      The 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships will be May 22-24 in Walnut, Calif. The participant list will come out this Tuesday (May 13^th).