Photo courtesy of Lewis Butler
Senior Michael Nikkila, junior Charles-Michael Berg, senior David Sayers and sophomore Lewis Butler pose with the Kansas mascot.
Photo courtesy of Lewis Butler
Coach Lundberg runs in the Masters Mile event at Kansas wearing his old Kansas uniform.
The Charger track teams have taken their competition to a level that proves the dedication and skill of this elite group of athletes.
Last Thursday, part of both the men's and women's teams participated in the three-day competition in Lawrence, Kansas at the Kansas Relays where Olympians and other top athletes such as Marion Jones and Maurice Green were present.
On Friday, the other part of the Charger teams traveled to Eastern Michigan University for the Twilight Invitational where they battled cold, rainy weather conditions and a late night of competing.
Both meets posted several personal records and were building blocks for the team as they prepare for this weekend's home GINA Relays and the upcoming outdoor GLIAC meet.
“We were successful in providing competition at both places even though the team was split up,” head coach Bill Lundberg said.
The Kansas Relays were an exciting meet for the Chargers to participate in, with 30 different Olympian athletes competing in different events.
Even Lundberg got a chance to compete at the meet, which was held at his alma mater. He ran in the Men's One Mile Run Masters, finishing in fourth place at 5:20.22.
On Thursday, the team was led by junior Scott Kallgren's second place finish in the 5000 meter run (14:54.86). Senior Kyle Fujimoto finished in seventh place at 15:15.22.
Sophomore Lewis Butler placed third in the 10,000 meter race (32:26.17) and senior David Sayers took ninth place at 32:46.21. Junior Charles Henry had a time of 1:58.93 in the 800 meter run for 22nd place.
Sophomore Alissa Hall took 11th place for the women in the 5000 meter race (18:56.25). Sophomore Katie Smith placed 17th in the 800 meter run (2:24.13). In the field, junior Emily Sharp threw 42.47 meters in the hammer throw for 16th place.
On Friday, sophomore Peter Sercer led the way for the men with a sixth place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase (9:48.33). The men's distance relay team took eighth place at 10:47.70.
The women's 4x200 meter relay broke the school record with their time of 1:46.85. The team of senior Candice Mulder, junior Krista Pfautz, freshman Christina Bailey and sophomore Ashley DeJonge placed in ninth place. Sharp led again in the field with a 15th place finish in the shot put at 12.65 meters.
With a crowd of over 25,000 fans at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, senior Michael Nikkila led the men's team with his fourth place finish in the 1500 meter race (4:00.72). Senior Seth Folkerstma finished in 15th place at 4:10.65.
In the 110 meter hurdles, junior Cody Senkyr ran a time of 15.49 seconds for 24th place.
Senior Stephanie Carroll led the women on Saturday with her national provisional qualifying time in the 800 meter race at 2:14.62. Carroll finished placed fifth for the team. In the 1500 meter race, freshman Jen Gunderson placed 16th at 4:52.04.
Senior Callie Adamson placed eighth in the 3000 meter steeple chase at 11:47.63. Freshman Christian Bailey placed 28th in the 100 meter hurdles at 18.82 seconds. Freshman Kristin Donovan led the way in the field, throwing 36.88 meters in the discuss for 17th place.
While the weather obstacle for the Chargers in Kansas was the wind, the team in Michigan battled rain and cold weather at the Eastern University Twilight Invitational on Friday afternoon and evening.
Junior Andy Shaw had a seasonal best in the 100 meter race at 11.64 seconds, placing 13th. In the 200 meter dash Brian Baker finished in 14th at 25.48 seconds for a personal record. In the 3000 meter steeple chase, sophomore Alex Schmidtendorff had a personal record placing fifth at 10:03.94.
The men's 4x400 meter relay team placed first with a time of 3:21.99. Sophomore Peter Ulrickson had a personal record in the javelin throw at 139.4 meters.
Junior Laura Devine led the women with a seasonal best in the 800 meter dash at 2:22.74, which gave her a 17th place finish.
Sophomore BethAnn Lannen had a seasonal best in the 1500 meter race at 5:06.70. Freshman Lesley Turner finished 27th in the 5000 meter at 19:56.60.
In the field, junior Lindsey Stevens tied her seasonal best mark in the pole vault, placing ninth at 3.36 meters.
Senior Jessie Miller set a personal record in the javelin throw, placing 12th with a throw of 31.71 meters.
The focus of the team now begins today with the home GINA Relays. Over 50 different teams as well as post-collegiate athletes will be participating in the events that go on until Saturday.
“We are always excited to be on our home track,” Lundberg said.
“We look forward to more personal records here at the GINAs, as we prepare for our conference meet coming up. It will be an exciting weekend.”
The 39 th Annual Hillsdale
“GINA” Relays
April 28, 29 and 30, 2005
[All events are women then men unless otherwise indicated.]
THURSDAY, APRIL 28 :
3:15 p.m. Men's Decathlon (100m, LJ, SP, HJ, 400m)
3:30 p.m. Women's Heptathlon (100m Hurdles, HJ, SP, 200m)
FRIDAY, APRIL 29:
9:00 a.m. Men's Decathlon ( 110m Hurdles, Disc, PV, Jav, 1500m)
10:00 a.m. Women's Heptathlon (LJ, Jav, 800m)
5:30 p.m. 400m hurdle final
6:15 p.m. 3000m steeplechase final
7:00 p.m. Invite 5000m final [women; two heats, if necessary]
7:45 p.m. Invite 5000m final [men; two heats, fast heat last]
8:25 p.m. 3200 Relay
8:50 p.m. The Gina (VanLaar) Lanser 10,000 [women]
9:40 p.m. 10,000m Final [men; two heats, fast heat first]
10:55 p.m. Open 5000 Final
FRIDAY FIELD EVENTS:
12:00 p.m. Hammer
3:00 p.m. High Jump [men then women]
4:00 p.m. Shot Put
5:00 p.m. Long Jump
SATURDAY APRIL 30:
1:00 p.m. NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PRESENTATION
1:10 p.m. 400m Relay
1:30 p.m. 100m hurdle final [women]
2:00 p.m. 110m high hurdle final [men]
2:30 p.m. 1500m final
3:20 p.m. 400m final
4:15 p.m. 100m final
5:00 p.m. 800m final
5:35 p.m. 200m final
6:30 p.m. 3000m final
6:45 p.m. 1600m Relay
SATURDAY FIELD EVENTS:
10:00 a.m. Pole Vault
11:00 a.m. Discus
12:00 noon Triple Jump
12:00 noon Javelin [men then women]