KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Indiana State senior Kelsey Hanley was not able to improve on her season best performance but did finish second in the women's weight throw on the opening day of the Alex Wilson Last Change Invitational Friday on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
“Kelsey did not improve but did place second,” John McNichols, Indiana State cross country and track & field coordinator, said. “We will have to follow the rest of the weekend to see if she can hold her ranking.”
Hanley is ranked 11th nationally with a throw of 66'-8.5” (20.33 meters). The top 15 individuals usually receive an invitation but her place on the list may change depending on what happens elsewhere in the nation this weekend.
Another Sycamore in competition on Friday was Drew LaMaster in the men's pole vault.
“Drew no heighted which was a bit of a disappointment although the starting height was the highest that he has started at this season,” McNichols said. “We do have a full day tomorrow and we are expecting some good performances from a number of our athletes.”
Two Sycamores have automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships as sophomore Felisha Johnson qualified in the weight throw and junior Major Clay in the high jump. Johnson will be making her first appearance at the NCAA Championship. Clay competed a year ago and finished 12th. He was a provisional qualifier two years ago but did not get an invitation to the championship.
Clay will not be competing this weekend but Johnson will be looking to improve her season best in the women's shot put. Johnson has a mark of 52'-2” (15.90 meters) which is the second best distance in Indiana State history and ranks the sophomore 30th in the nation. Johnson will be trying to get at least another foot out of her season best to improve her chances of making the nationals in the shot put.
Three other Sycamore women pole vaulters will be in competition on Junior Nicole Hope, sophomore Richelle Kimble, and senior Alicia Fritschi will seek to improve their season best performances in what could be their final indoor meet of the season. Hope has the third best vault in ISU history of 12'-11.75” (3.96 meters) and ranks 55th in the nation. Kimble has a season best of 12'-5.5” (3.80 meters) while Fritschi has a season best of 12'-4.5” (3.77 meters).
Hope competed at the 2010 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships as a member of the Ohio Northern University team. Hope, Kimble, and Fritschi are looking to improve on their season best efforts and to clear 13'-8” which may be the minimum needed to receive an invitation to this year's Division I championship.
Members of the men's team may be long shots to receive an invitation to the Division I championships but each have had outstanding seasons and will be looking to continue to improve on their season best performance ahead of the outdoor season during the competition Saturday.
Senior Michael Roberts is coming off a second place finish in the 60 meters at the MVC Indoor Championships but did establish a personal best with a time of 7.97 seconds in the finals. A time of 7.70 would garner the senior an automatic berth and a time under 7.80 would put him into the consideration for an invitation. Roberts runs at 12:05 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
Senior Daryl Truitt finished a very close second in the finals of the 60 meters at the MVC Indoor Championships (lost by three-hundredths of a second) but did establish a personal best of 6.78 seconds in the finals which is the fifth best time in ISU history. Truitt is looking to knock off two-tenths of a second off his personal best time which would put him into the consideration for an invitation. Truitt runs at 12:10 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
Sophomore Corey Hahn, who had a tough weekend at the MVC Indoor Championships after being knocked down twice during the competition, will be looking to improve on his personal best time of 1:54.00 in the Alex Wilson 800 meter race at 12:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Hahn will be attempting to knock off at least six seconds from his personal best aiming for a 1:48.00 to receive consideration for the NCAA Championship.
Junior Andrew Stull will be running in the 200 meters at 1:10 p.m. (ET). The junior has a personal best time of 22.03 seconds set at the Grand Valley State Big Meet this season and will be looking to shave at least a second off that time on Saturday. The junior will be looking to run 21.00 or under to receive consideration for the NCAA Championship.
Sophomore Dustin Betz will be the final Sycamore competing at Notre Dame as he runs in the mile at 1:35 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Betz ran a personal best 4:11.08 (converted time of 4:09.28) at the Wisconsin Elite Meet earlier this season. The sophomore will need to shave at least 11 seconds off his season best have to receive consideration for the NCAA Championship this season.
