Covenant News

NPU Athletes Qualify in CCIW Track-Field Event

KENOSHA, WI (March 1, 2004) - Will Mejia, Lucia Abel and Grace Conrad recorded NCAA provisional qualifying marks and won events as North Park University (NPU) competed in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin indoor track and field championships last Saturday at Carthage College.

Mejia was a bright spot for the men's team, winning the shot put with a toss of 50 feet, 7 and 1/4 inches, just bettering the 50-7 provisional qualifying standard to provisionally qualify for the national NCAA Division III meet at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater March 12-13. Mejia also fared well in the weight throw event, placing second with a mark of 50-6 3/4.

North Park scored 28 points to finish seventh in team competition. North Central College totaled 181 points as team champion. Luke Johnson, Paul Farnum, Karl Hench and Erik Mehran helped North Park finish sixth in the 3,200 meter relay. Chris Wada, Dante Britten, Josh Gruenewald and Quinton Wilks were part of the 800 relay team that placed seventh.

In women's competition, Abel won the long jump and triple jump and Conrad was first in the 5,000 meter race as the Vikings totaled 52.5 points and placed sixth overall. Carthage took team honors with 167 points.

Abel leaped 17 feet, 11 and 1/2 inches to win the long jump while teammate Elizabeth Podczaski had a leap of 17-2 and 1/4, to place third. Abel leaped 38-0 and 3/4 to win the triple jump. She's a provisional qualifier for nationals in both events.

Conrad's 17:53.87 in the 5,000 put her just under the 17:55 needed for provisional qualifying and was well ahead of second place finisher Erin Grice of Elmhurst College (18:23.39). Essence Ashford tied for fourth in the high jump with an effort of 5-2 and 1/4, but had more misses in the competition than champion Molly May of Illinois Wesleyan University.

North Park placed fifth in the distance relay behind Abel, Conrad, Becky Gritter and Allison Weller. Sarah Baker finished sixth in the weight throw (39-4 and 1/2) and Ashford, Abel, Podczaski and Jackie Decker helped North Park place sixth in the 800 relay.

In other sports action last weekend at NPU:

• The women's basketball team lost at Millikin University 63-54 in the semifinals of the conference tourney in Decatur last Friday. The Vikings fell to 15-11 for the season despite 17 points by Shandrel Young and 14 points by Tiffany Campbell. North Park trailed 32-23 at the half, but stayed within striking distance during the rest of the contest, trailing just 45-41 with 4:50 left after two Young foul shots. Millikin went on a 7-0 spurt to lead 52-41 with 2:29 remaining and four free throws by Audrey Minott (11 points) in the final 45 seconds iced the game for the Big Blue, which lost 74-49 to Wheaton College in the conference title game Saturday afternoon.
• The men's basketball team ended its 2003-04 season with a 94-80 loss at North Central College despite 15 points apiece by Javier Sanchez and Brett Mathisen. North Park finished 8-17 overall, 3-11 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Other double figure scorers for the Vikings on Saturday were Cory Wilks and Lamar Townsend with 10 points each.

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