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For Immediate Release
March 9, 2006
PRAIRIE WOLVES AIM FOR NCAA INDOOR GLORY
Nebraska Wesleyan University is sending 14 student-athletes
to compete with the nation’s elite at the 2006 NCAA Division
III Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held on Friday
and Saturday in Northfield, Minn.
Amy Vanderkolk |
“We will have one of the largest teams there,”
Nebraska Wesleyan head coach Dr. Ted Bulling said.
Jennifer Nunnenkamp was the beneficiary of a late
scratch in the weight throw, which allowed her to earn her first
trip to the national meet, while long/triple jumper Erin Powell
and hurdler Amy Vanderkolk are returning All-Americans in their
events. Powell is ranked third in the long jump entering the meet.
Bulling said the men’s team is
again poised to place among the top four in the nation after finishing
third in 2003 and fourth in both 2004 and 2005.
A change in the meet schedule from last year has
Bulling planning a lineup shift in the two relays. Evan Knight is
ranked third in the 800 and helped both the Distance Medley Relay
and the 4x400 qualify for the national meet. However, the finals
for those three events are all scheduled within 95 minutes of each
other on Saturday, so Bulling is replacing Knight with Gordie Coffin
on the 4x400 and Kris Kratz (So., Waverly, Neb., Waverly High School)
will replace Coffin on the 400 leg of the DMR.
Blake Henning |
“It’s going to give us the best chance
for success in both relays,” Bulling said.
Nebraska Wesleyan’s DMR is the defending
NCAA Div. III champion, and senior Aaron Dye is back to anchor the
team again after missing most of his senior cross country season
with pain in his knee.
“We’ll have a chance to repeat if we
can get within striking range for Aaron,” Bulling said. “He’s
finally rounding into shape.”
The 4x400 and DMR are both ranked third entering
the meet, as is Jed Droge in the long jump. Bulling said he expects
Blake Henning and Knight to make finals in the 800, which would
give NWU two scoring opportunities in one event.
Nebraska Wesleyan has claimed Top 10 finishes at
the indoor and/or outdoor NCAA Div. III Track & Field Championships
in 18 of the last 21 years for the men and in 10 of the last 17
years for the women. For heat sheets, meet information and
a complete schedule of events on the Internet, click
here.
NWU Women’s Qualifiers
Jennifer Nunnenkamp (Sr., Henderson, Neb.,
Heartland), weight throw, 51’3
Erin Powell (Sr., Beaver City, Neb., Southern Valley), long jump,
18’6 1/2
Erin Powell (Sr., Beaver City, Neb., Southern Valley), triple jump,
37’5 3/4
Amy Vanderkolk (Sr., Malcolm, Neb., Malcolm High School), 55 hurdles,
8.43
NWU Men’s Qualifiers
Jed Droge (Jr., Pawnee City, Neb., Pawnee
City High School), long jump, 23’11*
Blake Henning (Sr., Beatrice, Neb., Beatrice High School), 800,
1:53.62c
Evan Knight (So., Keystone, Neb., Ogallala High School), 800, 1:52.46c*
Matt Turman (Sr., Lincoln, Neb., Southeast High School), 55 dash,
6.44
Derek Zulkoski (Jr., Columbus, Neb., Columbus High School), pole
vault, 16’5
Distance Medley Relay, 10:00.32c*
Evan Knight (So., Keystone, Neb.,
Ogallala High School)
Gordie Coffin (Jr., Osceola, Neb., Osceola High School)
Blake Henning (Sr., Beatrice, Neb., Beatrice High School)
Aaron Dye (Sr., Hebron, Neb., Thayer Central High School)
4x400 Relay, 3:16.56c*
Jason Peters (So., Lincoln, Neb.,
Southwest High School)
Jeff Aldrich (Sr., Seward, Neb., Seward High School)
Evan Knight (So., Keystone, Neb., Ogallala High School)
Chris Wolf (So., Ceresco, Neb., Raymond Central High School)
* Designates Automatic Qualifying Mark
c Designates Converted Time
**********
The Prairie Wolves appear to be peaking as several
of their top marks for the season were achieved in the last two
weeks. On Feb. 25, the men claimed their 16th conference indoor
team title in the last 18 years, and the NWU women finished second
at the 2006 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Indoor Track
& Field Championships.
Mary Kersenbrock (Sr., O’Neill, Neb., St.
Mary’s High School) claimed individual crowns in the 55 and
200, Powell placed first in the triple jump and teammate Mercy Dinwiddie
(Fr., Central City, Neb., Central City High School) won the 5,000.
The men had just three event winners, but prevailed
with their depth. Turman shared the 55 title in what was ruled a
dead heat, while Peters won the 200 and Henning set a new GPAC meet
record in capturing the 800 (1:54.02).
Then, on March 4, both men’s relays listed
above ran their automatic qualifying marks at the Iowa State University
Qualifier held in Ames, Iowa.
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