Indiana University Athletics
Siefker Takes 4th in Steeple
5/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
COLUMBUS, Ohio--The Indiana women's track and field team had a successful second day of the 2005 Big Ten Championships as junior Kelly Siefker posted a fourth-place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase (10:26.96) and eight Hoosiers and a relay team advanced to tomorrow's finals in their respective events.
Indiana
earned a total of seven points on Saturday, putting them ninth overall.
The steeplechase featured some tough competition for Siefker including defending Big Ten champion Amber Ferner of Purdue and Cassie Hunt of Illinois, who held the nation's 10th-fastest time. Siefker kept her own as she went out as the early leader in the first lap and never trailed too far off from that stance. With a mile left, Siefker had her eye on Hunt, who had broken from the pack and widened the gap. The next three places were up for grabs as Siefker, Ferner and Molly Landreth of Michigan State raced down the straight away towards the finish line. It looked as if Siefker would hold on for a third-place finish, but with about 30 meters left, Ferner cleared the last hurdle perfectly and sprinted to the line to pass Siefker.
Doubling up in both of their events were junior Larra Overton (1,500m & 800m) and sophomore Stacey Clausing (200m &400m). Sophomores Michele Huber (400m), Ara Towns (100m), Lorian Price (100m hurdles), and senior Julie Shields (1,500m) each earned a chance to compete in tomorrow's finals.
Two of the four Hoosiers competing in the 400m dash trials got past the prelims as Clausing blazed to a career-best 54.15. Her time not only ranks second overall heading in to the finals tomorrow, but also ranks fifth in the IU record books. Huber took up the last qualifying spot as she finished ninth overall with a time of 56.35. Soon after the 400m trials were over, Clausing tacked on another mark to put her in the finals when she finished first in the 200m trials in 23.78.
Price had a stellar performance in the 100m hurdles trials as she equaled her personal best time of 13.67 and finished third overall the event. Price and LaNeisha Waller of
Illinois
were stride for stride the entire way, but Price managed to push a little extra at the end to win the heat. Also in the sprints, Towns ran a season-best time of 11.68 in the 100m, which put her seventh overall and allowed her to move into tomorrows finals.
After running two events earlier in the day, Price had to switch gears and prepare for the women's long jump trials and finals. Once there, Price proved she still has some gas in the tank when she jumped to a seventh-place finish with a mark of 5.75m (18-10.50). Price earned the Hoosiers' first points of the championships (2).
In addition to these qualifiers, the 4x100m squad of Price, Towns, Carr, and Zakiya Robinson looked strong and confident in the trials section of the race as they cruised to a second-place finish overall with a season-best time of 46.18. The race grew intense as the baton was passed from Towns to third-leg Carr. Trailing only
Iowa
at the time, the handoff between Towns and Carr went smoothly, but
Iowa
dropped the baton, and
Indiana
took over sole possession of first in their section.
The steeplechase featured some tough competition for Siefker including defending Big Ten champion Amber Ferner of Purdue and Cassie Hunt of Illinois, who held the nation's 10th-fastest time. Siefker kept her own as she went out as the early leader in the first lap and never trailed too far off from that stance. With a mile left, Siefker had her eye on Hunt, who had broken from the pack and widened the gap. The next three places were up for grabs as Siefker, Ferner and Molly Landreth of Michigan State raced down the straight away towards the finish line. It looked as if Siefker would hold on for a third-place finish, but with about 30 meters left, Ferner cleared the last hurdle perfectly and sprinted to the line to pass Siefker.
Doubling up in both of their events were junior Larra Overton (1,500m & 800m) and sophomore Stacey Clausing (200m &400m). Sophomores Michele Huber (400m), Ara Towns (100m), Lorian Price (100m hurdles), and senior Julie Shields (1,500m) each earned a chance to compete in tomorrow's finals.
O
verton, who clocked in at 4:34.42 in the 1,500m and a 2:10.16 in the 800m looked confident from start to finish in both of her races. Shields was the final athlete to make the cut in the 1,500m as she posted a personal-best time of 4:38.61.Two of the four Hoosiers competing in the 400m dash trials got past the prelims as Clausing blazed to a career-best 54.15. Her time not only ranks second overall heading in to the finals tomorrow, but also ranks fifth in the IU record books. Huber took up the last qualifying spot as she finished ninth overall with a time of 56.35. Soon after the 400m trials were over, Clausing tacked on another mark to put her in the finals when she finished first in the 200m trials in 23.78.
Price had a stellar performance in the 100m hurdles trials as she equaled her personal best time of 13.67 and finished third overall the event. Price and LaNeisha Waller of
After running two events earlier in the day, Price had to switch gears and prepare for the women's long jump trials and finals. Once there, Price proved she still has some gas in the tank when she jumped to a seventh-place finish with a mark of 5.75m (18-10.50). Price earned the Hoosiers' first points of the championships (2).
In addition to these qualifiers, the 4x100m squad of Price, Towns, Carr, and Zakiya Robinson looked strong and confident in the trials section of the race as they cruised to a second-place finish overall with a season-best time of 46.18. The race grew intense as the baton was passed from Towns to third-leg Carr. Trailing only
Action continues tomorrow with the women's triple jump set to begin at 11:40 a.m.
Saturday Results (Women)
^=advances to tomorrows final
4x100m Relay
1,500m Trials
Larra Overton-6th-4:34.42^
Julie Shields-12th-4:38.61^
Ashley Groth-DNF
400m Trials
Stacey Clausing-2nd-54.15^
Michele Huber-9th-56.35^
Charlene Maddox-17th-57.45
Kyndal Carr-24th-59.73
100m Trials
Ara Towns-7th-11.68^
100m Hurdles
Lorian Price-3rd-13.67^
Long Jump
Lorian Price-7th-5.75m (18-10.50)
Zakiya Robinson-9th-5.53m (18-1.75)
800m Trials
Larra Overton-5th-2:10.16^
Lauren Keefe-16th-2:16.05
LaDonna Ray-17th-2:16.38
Nikki Peterson-20th-2:19.02
Javelin
Lindsey Heisler-14th-25.71m (84-4
200m Trials
Stacey Clausing-1st-23.78^
Ara Towns-11th-24.83
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and FieldSprints
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M-Distance
/ Track and FieldM-Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track and FieldSprints/Jumps
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