Indiana University Athletics
YELDELL WINS TRIPLE JUMP, HOOSIERS FINISH SIXTH
2/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
YELDELL WINS TRIPLE JUMP, HOOSIERS FINISH SIXTH
Bloomington, Ind. - IU sophomore Greg Yeldell won the Big Ten triple jump competition Sunday at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse. The Indiana men's team finished in a tie with Michigan for sixth with 62 points.
Yeldell leapt 16.35m (53-7.75) to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships March 10-11 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. His winning mark is third best in IU history. Yeldell's mark Yeldell also placed second in the long jump Saturday at 7.52m (24-8.25).
"Greg had a great meet," said IU head coach Marshall Goss. "I am happy for him, and he is happy for himself. He beat a very competitive young man today."
Yeldell excelled against tough competition as the top two automatically qualified for the NCAA's and a third provisionally qualified. He finished six centimeters (2.25 inches) ahead of Lenton Herring of Wisconsin which also made the NCAA field.
"I went out really well," said Yeldell. "The Big Ten is so good, and it brought the best performance out of me."
Senior Russell Brooks showed well on his home track with a third place finish in the 60 meter and a sixth place time of 21.81 in the 200meter. His time of 7.81 in the 60 meter was a hundredth of a second behind B.J. Tucker of Wisconsin. Brooks appeared to have the race and led with about 15 meters to go.
"I got a good first place start," Brooks said. "And I was going to take it, but I stumbled and did not do as well as I was hoping."
IU junior Mikko Simos led a solid group of middle distance runners with a third place finish in the 800 meters. Simos ran a season best 1:51.52 as he edged Toby Henkels of Minnesota. Senior Chris Ekman ran a strong race as he took fourth in the mile with a time of 4:12.94, and sophomore Ryan Huber won his heat, but placed fifth in the 600 meter at 1:19.70.
"My goal was to be in the top three finishers," said Simos. "I accomplished this, but I feel like I could have performed better."
The Hoosiers put two on the awards stand in the high jump. Sophomore Jon Lange finished fourth after clearing 2.10m (6-10.75), and freshman John Miles flew above 2.06m (6-9) to place sixth.
"I was not very happy with the way I performed," Lange stated. "But I was happy to put points on the board for the team."
The Hoosiers conclude the regular indoor season in the USATF
Championships Friday March 3 in the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse.
The meet begins at 5 p.m. Those that qualify will then head to
the NCAA Championships.
QUOTES FROM THE WINNERS
High Jump
Shaun Guice, Purdue
"I feel very blessed. I want to thank God and my Coach."
John Lange, Indiana, fourth place
"I was not very happy with the way I performed, but I was
happy to put points on the board for the team."
Mile
Andrew McKessock, Minnesota
"I felt very fortunate because I wasn't ranked going into
this event, and I felt really good about my race."
400 Meter Dash
Andrew Pierce, Ohio State
"I felt that I did pretty well and that both of my coaches
prepared me. I felt very relaxed about my race."
Triple Jump
Greg Yeldell, Indiana
"I went out really well. It has been a long week. The Big
Ten is so good and it brought the best performance out of me."
60 Meter Dash
Michael Bennett, Wisconsin
This was my first big meet and I did not do as well as I was
hoping but I still felt good about my race.
Russell Brooks, Indiana, third place
"I got a good first place start and I was going to take
it, but I stumbled and did not do as well as I was hoping."
800 Meter Dash
Jason Van Swol, Illinois
"The competion was really strong which pushed me. I was
very happy with how I performedWisconsin .
Mikko Simos, Indiana, third place
"My goal was to be in the top three finishers and I accomplished
this, but I feel lke I could have performed better."
Weight Throw
Bruce Brown, Purdue
"I was concerned with defending my title, but overall I
did not think that I performed as well. The shot put took a lot
out of me yesterday.
60 Meter Hurdles
T.J. Nelson, Wisconsin
"I was very happy with how I performed since I had been
struggling through the year because I transferred schools. My
main goal was to make it back to Nationals where I can compete
with top runners."
Hepthathlon
Brad Mohns, Wisconsin
"I felt like I did a great job and I did a lot of things
that I never thought I could do."
200 Meter
Michael Bennett, Wisconsin (also won 60 meter dash and named
athlete of the meet)
"My team mates and friends came out to support me and overall,
this day has been incredible."
600 Meter
Tom Gerding, Minnesota
"I was very happy and excited about this win."
