May 13, 2008

Track Sending Eight to Outdoor Nationals

Four Men, Four Women

Official NCAA Meet Website (Cal Poly)

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team will send eight athletes (four men, four women) to the 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships May 22-24 in Walnut, Calif.

      The NCAA today released the qualifiers for this year's event, hosted by Cal Poly Pomona May 222-4 at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mount San Antonio College.

      Senior Jacquelyn Dibbern (York), juniors Michelle Dill (Imperial) and Kelli Dring (Kearney) and sophomore Kiley Peterson (Gothenburg) represent the Loper women.

      Making the trip on the men's side are senior Jarrod Holz (Ashland), junior Spencer Huff (York), sophomore Brandon Karlin (Phillipsburg, Kan.) and freshmen Drew Onnen (Fairbury/Thayer Central).

      Dring is the only Loper going back to outdoor nationals for a second straight year. She will compete in both the long and triple jumps. In 2007, she placed 5^th in the long jump to earn her second All-American honor.

      Also qualifying in two events is Dill, as she'll run at 800 and 1,500 meters. Dill -- and Dibbern (3,000 steeplechase) -- are aiming to become UNK's first-ever female distance runners to earn All-American honors at an NCAA Division II outdoor meet.

      Finally, Peterson (shot put) looks to be the sixth different Loper woman to earn outdoor All-American honors in the throws.

      On the men's side, Huff looks to earn his second All-American honor this year as he placed fourth in the long jump at the NCAA indoor meet.

      Both Holz and Onnen have been on the national discus list all year. They'll try and continue UNK's success in this event as the Lopers have had an All-American in the discus every season since 2002.

      Finally, Karlin looks to be the second Loper from Phillipsburg, Kan., to earn All-American honors in the hammer as Kellen Jacobs placed seventh in the event in 2006.

Men Qualifiers

Name                           Event                           Nat'l Rank (Mark)       Date/Start Time of Competition

Jarrod Holz                   Discus                          11^th  (171-7)               May 24^th/5:30 p.m. Central

Spencer Huff                Long Jump                    14^th (24.2.25)             May 22^nd/5:05 p.m. Central

Brandon Karlin              Hammer                       11^th (190-5)                  May 22^nd/5:00 p.m. Central       

Drew Onnen                 Discus                          13th (169-9)                   May 24^th/5:30 p.m. Central

Women's Qualifiers

Jacquelyn Dibbern         3,000 Steeplechase        14^th (11:02.32)        May 22^nd/7:50 p.m. Central (prelims)

Michelle Dill                  800 meters                    19^th (2:13.51)                 May 23^rd/8:20 p.m. Central (prelims)

                                    1,500 meters                 12^th (4:36.09)                   May 22^nd/6:20 p.m. Central (prelims)

Kelli Dring                    Long Jump                    7^th (19-8.25)                   May 22^nd/8:00 p.m. Central

                                    Triple Jump                   14^th (39-1.75)                   May 23^rd/8:15 p.m. Central

Kiley Peterson              Shot Put                        14^th (45-7.25)                     May 23^rd/7:55 p.m. Central