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Track starts season by setting records
By Stephanie Riebe
Collegian Reporter
After only two indoor track meets, sophomore
pole vaulter Lindsey Stevens has already reached the goal she
set for the indoor track season.
On Jan. 10, at the U-M Jack Harvey Invitational,
Stevens set a new school record in the pole vault at 11 feet
5 3/4 inches. Stevens' height also qualified her for the national
competition later in the season.
"I could sense it in the air that I had
broke the record," Stevens said. "I was really excited
to qualify for nationals this early in the season."
Stevens's record-breaking jump was even more
impressive because it broke the record that she set last season.
Stevens credits both her early success as well as the team's
dedication and time they spend together practicing.
"We train six days a week," Stevens
said. "All the training we do takes a lot of effort and
time. The group of girls that I work with are a lot of fun but
still very committed to what we are trying to accomplish. A
lot of our success is due to the commitment of the group."
Other top finishers for the Chargers at the
meet were freshman Katie Spice, who placed 16th in the 60-meter
dash, and junior Katie Simmons, who placed ninth in the 60-meter
hurdles.
Junior Sara Monteleone placed fifth in shot put and 12th in
the weight throw.
On Saturday the team continued to record strong
finishes as they competed at the Eastern Michigan University
Invitational. Four of the Chargers set personal best records
in their events.
Junior Stephanie Carroll finished second in
the 3,000-meter run with a personal best time of 10 minutes,
30.52 seconds. Junior Candace Mulder set new personal best time
of 58.50 in the 400-meter and 26.24 in the 200-meter.
Simmons placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles,
and ran a personal best time of 9.52 in the preliminaries. Senior
Tauna Blacquiere, competing in her first ever pentathlon, placed
third with a score of 3,023.
The men's team has also had success early
in the indoor season.
On Saturday junior Joel Clark broke the school
record in the 60-meter race with a time of 7.19. Clark's finish
broke a record that had been standing for six years.
"It was nice to get the record out of
the way," Clark said. "But the marks we need to hit
as a team are much faster. There are a few guys on the team
that can easily run that time, and we are all pushing each other
to get closer and closer to potentially making an impact in
the conference meet."
Other Chargers set personal bests for themselves
at Saturday's meet. Sophomore Cody Senkyr ran a personal best
of 8.62 in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior Steve Larson won the
3,000-meter race with a time of 8:32.71, and junior Michael
Nikkila took seventh in the mile with a 4:19.12 time.
Coach Bill Lundberg said that two freshmen
also looked good in Saturday's competition. Distance runners
Matt Wish (8:54.76) and Tim Sayers (9:01.5) both ran personal
bests in the 3,000-meter race.
On Jan. 10, the Chargers had strong performances
from athletes in field events and short distance runners and
jumpers. Freshman Peter Ulrickson recorded a 12.14-meter finish
in the triple jump. Senior Chris Patton ran a 7.32 in the 60-meter
race and Senkyr had an 8.65 finish in the 60-meter hurdles.
The men and women's teams will compete on
Saturday in Ann Arbor at the U-M "Red Simmons" Invitational.
"This weekend we return to Ann Arbor
for the Red Simmons meet," women's head coach Penny Neer
said. "He was my coach in college and is now 94 years old.
I am very excited for the girls on the team to meet such a great
man."
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