April 20, 2008

Track Wins Three Events at Doane

Big Leap for Dring

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track & field team won three events and had 29 top five finishes Friday and Saturday at the Doane Relays in Crete.

      Also on Friday night, two Lopers ran the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the 81^st Annual Kansas Relays in Lawrence.

      At Doane, junior Kelli Dring (Kearney H.S.) led the way by winning the long jump with a leap of 18-9. Already an NCAA provisional qualifier in the event, this jump should vault her into the top 10 next week.

      The multi-talented Dring also was third in the 100 hurdles (15.60) and tied for eighth in the high jump.

      Fairbury junior Dakota Cochrane (pole vault) and Sidney freshmen Jessie Golden (100 hurdles) were UNK's other winners in the meet. Cochrane cleared 15-9, an NCAA provisional effort but not a season-high mark, while Golden recorded a time of 15.30.

      Golden was also third in the 400 hurdles (1:05.81) with Overton junior Jessica McCarter placing fourth at 100 meters (13.17) and coming in seventh in the 200 (27.36).

      In field events for the women, Ogallala senior Shayna Fruit finished runner up in the high jump (5-4) and four Lopers placed in the top six in the shot put. Gothenburg sophomore Kiley Peterson led the way with a second place effort (42-7.50).

      Finally, Palmer freshman Julie Davis was third in the shot and discus (128-11).

      On the men's side, North Platte senior Josh Hofer was second at 400 meters (49.36) and was one of five Lopers in the top eight in the 200. He placed fifth in that event with a 22.71.

      Also on the track, Ogallala freshman Tanner Fruit was second at 1,500 meters (4:07.97) with the 4 x 800 relay team coming in third (8:08.88).

      Besides the pole vault (three in the top six), UNK also fared well in the long jump with three in the top seven and five in the top 14. York junior Spencer Huff led the way with a second place finish (22-11.75).

      Kearney senior Ross Fellows was then second (46-1.50) in the triple jump.

      Finally, in the throws, UNK had five of the top seven finishers in the hammer, led by Kansas sophomore Brandon Karlin (5^th/162-5.50). Karlin then led the Lopers in the javelin (7^th/168-4).

      Weather permitting, UNK will hosts its annual outdoor meet this Thursday (April 24^th) at Kearney High. Field events start at 2:00 p.m. with running events going off at three.