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Tigers host 'last chance' meet
5/8/2009
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Most days, Fort Hays State University track and field coach Dennis Weber is not a big fan of "last chance" outings with individuals vying for a shot at national qualifications.
A couple surprises at Thursday's qualifier at Lewis Field Stadium had the Tiger coach rethinking his ways. A few surprises from his Tiger squad made the effort all the more worthwhile.
"Usually, it's really hard to get re-motivated after the conference meet," Weber said. "But, we had a few nice surprises."
One of those came in the form of senior Lindsay McCormick. The Wichita native automatically qualified in NCAA Division II with a toss of 150 feet, 6 inches on her third throw in the javelin competition, which featured three Fort Hays throwers and one from Sterling College.
McCormick is the second automatic qualifier this season, joining senior Bryan Haynes (100-meter dash).
Sophomore Amy Wilson, a Hays High School graduate, also set a provisional mark in the javelin, throwing 143-11 on her final toss Thursday.
"We're pretty surprised. Usually, this comes at a time when kids are busy with finals and so many other things going on, it's really hard to get going," Weber said.
Sophomore Carissa Heim provided another nice surprise though, for the Tigers. The Hoxie native jumped 18-81âÑ2 in the long jump to set a provisional mark, and has a shot at qualifying for nationals and could join junior Darcie Schmitz, who is close to an automatic qualification with her season-best 19-2. On Thursday, Schmitz jumped 18-93âÑ4 in the long jump.
Heim, a walk-on, is also a heptathlon athlete for the Tigers.
Freshman Morgan Witzel, who is borderline on getting to nationals this season in the high jump, was bothered Thursday by a sore calf and cleared just 5-1.
Witzel had jumped 5-6 this season to earn the provisional. She is among a few Tigers who might see action Saturday at Kansas State University.
Weber said Haynes (100, 200) would probably run Saturday as well, competing along with sophomores Tim McElroy and Mitch Sahlfeld, who have both thrown provisional marks in the hammer this season.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |