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NPU Athletes Qualify in CCIW Track-Field Event
KENOSHA, WI (March 1, 2004) - Will Mejia, Lucia Abel and Grace Conrad recorded
NCAA provisional qualifying marks and won events as North Park
University (NPU) competed in the College Conference of Illinois and
Wisconsin indoor track and field championships last Saturday at Carthage
College.
Mejia was a bright spot for the men's team, winning the shot put with a
toss of 50 feet, 7 and 1/4 inches, just bettering the 50-7 provisional
qualifying standard to provisionally qualify for the national NCAA
Division III meet at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater March 12-13.
Mejia also fared well in the weight throw event, placing second with a
mark of 50-6 3/4.
North Park scored 28 points to finish seventh in team competition. North
Central College totaled 181 points as team champion. Luke Johnson, Paul
Farnum, Karl Hench and Erik Mehran helped North Park finish sixth in the
3,200 meter relay. Chris Wada, Dante Britten, Josh Gruenewald and
Quinton Wilks were part of the 800 relay team that placed seventh.
In women's competition, Abel won the long jump and triple jump and
Conrad was first in the 5,000 meter race as the Vikings totaled 52.5
points and placed sixth overall. Carthage took team honors with 167 points.
Abel leaped 17 feet, 11 and 1/2 inches to win the long jump while
teammate Elizabeth Podczaski had a leap of 17-2 and 1/4, to place third.
Abel leaped 38-0 and 3/4 to win the triple jump. She's a provisional
qualifier for nationals in both events.
Conrad's 17:53.87 in the 5,000 put her just under the 17:55 needed for
provisional qualifying and was well ahead of second place finisher Erin
Grice of Elmhurst College (18:23.39). Essence Ashford tied for fourth in
the high jump with an effort of 5-2 and 1/4, but had more misses in the
competition than champion Molly May of Illinois Wesleyan University.
North Park placed fifth in the distance relay behind Abel, Conrad, Becky
Gritter and Allison Weller. Sarah Baker finished sixth in the weight
throw (39-4 and 1/2) and Ashford, Abel, Podczaski and Jackie Decker
helped North Park place sixth in the 800 relay.
In other sports action last weekend at NPU:
- The women's basketball team lost at Millikin University 63-54 in the
semifinals of the conference tourney in Decatur last Friday. The Vikings
fell to 15-11 for the season despite 17 points by Shandrel Young and 14
points by Tiffany Campbell. North Park trailed 32-23 at the half, but
stayed within striking distance during the rest of the contest, trailing
just 45-41 with 4:50 left after two Young foul shots. Millikin went on a
7-0 spurt to lead 52-41 with 2:29 remaining and four free throws by
Audrey Minott (11 points) in the final 45 seconds iced the game for the
Big Blue, which lost 74-49 to Wheaton College in the conference title
game Saturday afternoon.
- The men's basketball team ended its 2003-04 season with a 94-80 loss
at North Central College despite 15 points apiece by Javier Sanchez and
Brett Mathisen. North Park finished 8-17 overall, 3-11 in College
Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Other double figure scorers
for the Vikings on Saturday were Cory Wilks and Lamar Townsend with 10
points each.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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