Tommies send 9 to national track meet

March 10, 2008

St. Thomas has nine of the conference's 20 male and female track and field athletes entered in the NCAA Division III Championships Friday and Saturday in Ada, Ohio.  

The Tommie women are ranked second in the distance-medley relay. UST chose not to have Katie Theisen run in Friday's 800 prelims since she will run the mile anchor the distance-medley relay Friday night with teammates Nikki Arola (400), Kelly Russ (800) and Erin Sprangers (1200). Senior Selina Dehn is seeded third in Saturday's triple jump. Senior Shara Guidry will compete in Saturday's shot put and join senior Carol Comp in Friday's weight throw. 

Last May at outdoor nationals, Dehn was an all-American in the triple jump, Guidry was national champ in the discus, and Arola was an All-American on the 4x100 relay. Last November in cross country, Theisen earned All-America honors as she placed 20th in a field of 280 runners.

On the men's side, Tommie junior James Ewer is seeded in the top five in both the long jump and 55 meters, and will compete in both on Friday. Junior Brian Sames is seeded 10th in the 800, just one second out of first and will compete in prelims Friday night. Sames placed fourth last year indoors to earn All-American honors.

Men's Entrants (seed and best season performance listed)  

--55 Dash: 5. James Ewer, St. Thomas (6.34)

--800: 10. Brian Sames, St. Thomas (1:53.38)

--5,000: 5. Chris Erichsen, St. John's (14:31.02); 9. Brandon Gleason, Hamline (14:35.20).

--55 Hurdles: 11. Taylor Ferda, Bethel (7.62)

--Long Jump: 6. Ewer, St. Thomas, (23-6 1-4)

--Triple Jump: 5. Eric Buss, St. John's (48-1 1-4)

--Shot Put: 7. John Schantzen, St. Olaf (53-7)

--High Jump: 13. Jay Quick, Bethel (6-7 1-2)  

Women's Entrants  

--Mile: 2. Marie Borner, Bethel (4:54.49)

--Distance Medley Relay: 2. St. Thomas (Nikki Arola, Kelly Russ, Erin Sprangers, Katie Theisen) (11:48.20)

--Triple Jump: 3, Selina Dehn, St. Thomas (38-2 3-4)

--Shot Put: 12. Shara Guidry, St. Thomas (44-2 3-4)

--Weight Throw: 10. Carol Comp, St. Thomas (54-1 1-4); 13. Guidry, St. Thomas (52-11)

--High Jump: 4. Kaelene Lundstrom, Gustavus (5-6); 12. Leah Kay, Concordia-Moorhead (5-5)

--Pole Vault: 9. Amie Fillmore, St. Olaf (11-11 3-4); 10. Shanna Dawson, Gustavus (11-11 3-4)  

Click here to see heat sheets:

http://www.onusports.com/NCAATrack08/part.html