Track improves at Last Chance Meets
By Derek Groom
March 7, 2010 9:52 p.m.
With berths into the NCAA Indoor Championships at stake, several athletes from the men’s and women’s track teams improved their postseason chances on Friday and Saturday at the Last Chance qualifying meets.
The meets were held in three separate cities, as the mid-distance runners competed in South Bend, Ind., the long distance runners and pole vaulters went to Seattle and the sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers headed to Aimes, Iowa.
On the men’s side, Kevin Craddock, Cory Primm, Marlon Patterson and Casey DiCesare all improved on their previous NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Craddock finished second in the 60 meter hurdles, with a time of 7.75, which ranks as the ninth fastest time nationally this season.
Primm placed fourth in the 800 meters, with a lifetime-best time of 1:48.07. He now ranks 11th nationally, and is likely to qualify for NCAA Indoor Nationals with that time.
Patterson finished second in the mile, with a lifetime-best time of 4:00.33. He moved up the national rankings to the 22nd spot, but a spot at Nationals is uncertain.
In the pole vault, DiCesare tied for second with a lifetime-best mark of 17 feet, 7.75 inches, improving his NCAA rank to a tie for ninth.
The men’s distance medley relay team did not race on Friday because no other team posted a faster time than their third-ranked time of 9:31.07. The team will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
For the women’s team, Lindsay Rowe, Tori Anthony, and the 4×400 relay team improved on its NCAA provisional marks, but only Ryann Krais and Tori Pena expect to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Rowe finished fourth in the 60 meter hurdles in a season best time of 8.36, as her new mark now ranks her 39th nationally.
Anthony tied for first place with teammate Katy Viuf in the pole vault, with a mark of 13 feet, 5.25 inches. She now ranks 28th nationally.
The 4×400 meter relay team of Briana Barlow, Joy Eaton, Krishna Curry and Ashlea McLaughlin finished fourth with a season-best time of 3:36.23. They now rank 17th in the NCAA but will most likely not qualify for Nationals.
The NCAA Indoor Championships’ field will be announced today, and the meet will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., next weekend.
Compiled by Derek Groom, Bruin Sports senior staff.
