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Issued: March 9, 2007

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD TIED FOR THIRD AFTER DAY ONE OF NATIONALS

TERRE HAUTE, IN – Five members of the UW-Eau Claire women’s track and field team participated in four events on day one of the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships today and generated a team total of 15 points, which tied for third at the Rose-Hulman Sports and Recreation Center.

UW-La Crosse and Williams College (MA) are currently tied for first place with 17 points. The Blugolds are tied with North Central College (IL) with 15 points. Four teams are tied for fifth place with 10 points.

In the pole vault competition, the Blugolds had two members competing in Chelsea Becker (Sr.-Rice Lake, WI) and defending national champion Steph Barnes (Sr.-Sauk City, WI/Sauk Prairie). There would be no back-to-back titles for Barnes as she placed eighth after clearing a height of 11-11.75. Chelsea Becker placed third in the event after she cleared a height of 12-3.5, which tied her highest mark this season. Both women whom finished ahead of Becker broke a national record after clearing 12-11.5. Megan Rossi of North Central College (IL) eventually won the tiebreaker. Becker will also be competing tomorrow in the triple jump.

In the high jump, Jessica Owens (So.-Elm Grove, WI/Brookfield East) finished a close second in the event after she cleared a height of 5-6.5. Jennifer Harlow of Wheaton College won the event after she cleared a height of 5-7.

The track events today were preliminary events. In the 55-meter hurdles, Liz Faller (Sr.-Marinette, WI) qualified for the finals tomorrow after she finished third with her fastest time of the season of 8.29 seconds. She was the last runner to qualify for the finals on time. That event will take place at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time tomorrow.

The only other Blugold competing today was Liz Kooistra (So.-Lakeville, MN) in the 400-meter dash. Kooistra won her heat with a time of 56.75 seconds. That tied for the third fastest time of the day in that event. The finals of the 400-meters will take place at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time tomorrow.

Other Blugolds competing tomorrow will be Beth Lutz (So.-Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) in the 5,000-meter run and the 4x400-meter relay team of Laura Broner (So.-Madison, WI/Memorial), Shalene Huth (Sr.-Appleton, WI/West), Faller, and Kooistra.

The field events begin at 10:30 a.m. local time tomorrow, while the track events will start at 1 p.m. at the Rose-Hulman Sports and Recreation Center. The awards presentation will begin at approximately 4 p.m.

NCAA Indoor Championships Day One Results

- JR -

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