University of Missouri
NCAA Regional Championships
Woolsey, Bennett Punch Ticket To Sacramento
5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 27, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Missouri Track and Field seniors Conrad Woolsey and Jennifer Bennett earned fifth-place performances in the men's shot put and women's pole vault, respectively, Friday at the first day of the NCAA Mideast Regional in Bloomington, Ind., to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships in Sacramento in two weeks. The meet, having a weather delay early in the day, had to be postponed again in the late-evening, was suspended and will continue tomorrow.
Woolsey (Excelsior Springs, Mo.) took fifth with his meet-best throw of 61-7¾ (18.79m). Woolsey earns entry into his fourth-straight NCAA Division I championship in the event with today's effort.
Bennett (Ashland, Mo.) qualified in the women's pole vault, clearing 12-11¾ (3.96m), giving her the fifth-place showing and a ticket to Sacramento. Bennett has returned to her true form after having to redshirt in 2004 due to back injury. Bennett earned All-America honors in 2003 at the NCAA meet in Sacramento.
Surprising the field, true freshman Nate Englin (Shoreview, Minn.) qualified for the finals in the men's shot put. Englin took ninth in those finals, eight spots above his entry seed with a throw of 57-9½ (17.61m), grabbing a new personal best.
Junior Ashley Patten (Clarkston, Mich.) qualified for tomorrow's finals in the women's 800 with a time of 2:05.81. Freshman Trisa Nickoley (Tecumseh, Kan.) placed 12th in the event, running 2:09.15. Although Nickoley did not qualify for the final, her season will continue with the USATF Junior National Championships to be held in late-June.
Sophomore Tipper O'Brien (Kirkwood, Mo.) ran from sixth-place back in the final 120 meters to place third in his heat, automatically qualifying for tomorrow's final in the men's 1500-meter run.
A short rain shower early in the day effected the men's high jump and men's discus events. Senior Jesse Sims completed his career as a Tiger, placing ninth in the high jump.
At 8:30 p.m., meet officials suspended the final three events of the day due to lightning in the area. Once a moderate rain storm set in on the track an hour later, the NCAA announced its plans for tomorrow.
The men's and women's 5000-meter run scheduled for Friday evening will be ran tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. As of press time, the men's 200-meter dash preliminary start time is still in limbo.
For complete results, visit iuhoosiers.com or ncaasports.com.
Players Mentioned
