Colorado State University Athletics
Several Rams Regionally Qualify Over Weekend At Tom Benich Classic
4/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Indoor Track & Field
The Colorado State outdoor track and field teams were in Greeley over the weekend for the Tom Benich Classic and several student-athletes regionally qualified for the NCAA Championship.
Under the new NCAA format, student-athletes must qualify for the Regional Championship, which will take place May 30-31 at the University of Nebraska (for the Mountain Region) and the top finishers there advance to the NCAA Championship at Sacramento State University June 11-14.
The women?s team had champions in seven events with Keela Niemeyer leading the way after winning the discus throw (159-6) and turning in the top collegiate performance in the hammer throw (173-11 -- 2nd overall). She also placed second in the shot put (47-2.25) behind teammate Hannah Metzler (49-1). The Rams swept six of the top eight spots in the women?s shot put, seven of the top eight in the discus and the top four spots among collegians in the hammer throw. Mary Ridder (2:13.62) and Becky Hammitt (2:16.47) also swept the top two spots in the 800 meters for the Rams, while Kim Leal (17:28.32) and Jennifer Kintzley (17:51.00) took the top two positions in the 5000 meters, Meg Larson won the steeplechase with a time of 10:58.49 and Christine Ahn cleared 11-5.25 in the pole vault to win that event.
Women who regionally qualified on Saturday were: Larson in the steeplechase; Metzler and Niemeyer in the shot put; Niemeyer and Katie Hansen in the discus; and Niemeyer, Melissa Harms and Haley Hunt in the hammer throw.
The men?s team had champions in eight individual events and the 4x100 meter relay. John Woods won the 100 meters (10.59), while he finished second in the 200 meters (21.61) behind teammate Chris Riggs (21.60). Mike Nicks won the 1500 meters (3:54.41), leading a contingent of five Rams among the top six collegians. Mike Horton won the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.25 and Justin Hazzard led a trio of Rams to the finish in the 400 hurdles with his 52.69. The 4x100 meter relay won easily, crossing the finish line in 41.08, almost 9/10ths of a second ahead of second place Wyoming. Drew Loftin (55-3.75) and Brian Trainor (54-7.25) took the top two spots in the shot put, while Trainor was the top collegian in the discus (193-8). His throw currently ranks him second among NCAA Division I competitors this season. Loftin also won the hammer throw (220-2) with the third best throw this season among Division I competitors, while Adam Trainor was second among collegians on Saturday with this throw of 192-7.
Men who regionally qualified on Saturday were: Hazzard in the 400 meter hurdles; Nicks in the 1500 meters; Loftin and Brian Trainor in the shot put; Brian Trainor in the discus; and Loftin, Adam Trainor and James Cale in the hammer.
Colorado State will travel to Arizona next weekend to compete in both the Mesa Classic and Sun Angel Classic on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
