Thiel Earns UWM's First Regional Qualifying MarkApril 20, 2003
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Senior Lynda Thiel became the first UWM athlete to earn an NCAA Regional Qualifying mark Saturday, claiming an NCAA standard in the javelin at the Indiana State Pacesetter Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Thiel set a new school record in the event, breaking her old mark by nearly a meter and a half. The Panthers finished third out of eight in the meet behind only Ohio State and Eastern Illinois, scoring 101 points. Thiel recorded a throw of 42.03m (137-11) to win the event and reserve her spot in the Columbus, Ohio, regional at the end of May. That throw beat the qualifying standard of 41.48m, and bested her old school mark of 40.63m. Thiel becomes the first regional qualifier in school history, as this is the first year for the outdoor track regional system.
The women's 4x400m relay team of Katie Seep, Teresa Braunreiter, Katie Slamka and Tenia Fisher also picked up a victory on the day for the Panthers, finishing in a time of 3:55.96. Abby Hurst took second place in the steeplechase in 11:38.30, while the 4x100m relay of Kristy Naef, Sara Vanderloop, Iris Perez and Nicole Frey also grabbed second place with a time of 47.29, their best mark of the season to this point. Thiel also recorded a second-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 3.36m (11-0.25), and a third-place finish in the high jump, topping out at 1.65m (5-5), a new personal best for her and just three inches off the school record.
Nicole Frey also grabbed a pair of scoring performances, finishing sixth in the 100m in 12.29, and sixth in the 200m in 24.98, breaking the 25 second barrier for the first time this season. Braunreiter and Seep both placed in the 400m, with Braunreiter fourth in 58.38 and Seep right behind in sixth in 58.74. Fisher was fifth in the 800m, finishing in 2:19.16. In the mile, Katie Anderson and Christine Wampach were fourth and fifth, with Anderson finishing in 4:45.15 and Wampach in 4:48.78. In the 100m hurdles, Naef and Michelle Fritsch each grabbed a top-eight finish, with Naef sixth in 14.78 and Fritsch eighth in 15.13. Katie Slamka added a fifth-place showing in the 400m hurdles, finishing in 1:04.87. In other field events, Allison Schnelle and Naef tied for seventh after clearing 1.55m (5-1). Stephanie Ray took fifth in the pole vault, clearing 3.06m (10-0.5). Stephanie Kenesie was sixth in the long jump, measuring 5.47m (17-11.5), while Fritsch was eighth with a jump of 5.22m (17-1.5). Fritsch would also finish eighth in the triple jump, leaping 11.04m (36-2.75). UWM returns to the track next weekend with the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. |
