Spring Break
Three Rams qualify for NCAA meet
Steve Poehler
CSU sent 15 athletes and two coaches to the Cannon Classic in Indianapolis Friday and Saturday, and when they returned, three Rams had qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships. The Rams also won 14 of 24 events to dominate their only home meet of the indoor season, the Fum McGraw Memorial, Friday and Saturday. Senior Liz Toman and sophomore Hannah Metzler qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships in the shot put Friday night.
"Between the home meet and the meet in Indianapolis, the Rams had some great performances," head coach Del Hessell said after returning from Indianapolis with the team Sunday night. "We're headed in the right direction for the conference meet."
Senior Rob Vermillion won the mile in a time of 4:05.13, which was good enough to qualify him for the NCAA Qualifier Meet to be held March 3, in Lincoln, Neb. Vermillion's time set a new personal record.
Junior Meg Larson and sophomore Katie Yemm also ran times good enough for the NCAA Qualifier Meet. Larson came in second in the 3,000 meters in 9:35.25, while Yemm ran a 4:48.11 to finish seventh in the mile.
"Everyone did a really great job, especially the distance team," freshman John Woods said. "There were a lot of PRs (personal records) and provisional times. It was a really good effort by everyone."
In addition to the provisional-qualifying performances, three Rams placed in the top eight in the 60-meter dash. Senior Drew Smith led the way, finishing second, just ahead of Woods, who placed third. Sophomore Daniel Ward came in eighth.
"The competition wasn't as high as expected," said Woods. "The fastest time (in the 60 meters) was slower than last year. It was still enough competition to make Drew (Smith) and myself run faster. It was beneficial to be there. It gets people ready for the conference meet."
Runners who also turned in solid performances included sophomore Joey Alzola (fifth in the 800 meters), junior Josh Lybarger (eighth in the 5,000 meters), junior Elizabeth Roodell (fifth in the 3,000 meters) and senior Tim Marquez (seventh in the 400 meters).
"Between the (Cannon Classic) meet and the excitement of the meet at home, that's really going to help the team because they're going to have a tremendous amount of confidence," Hessell said. "I feel good right where we're at. We're ready to go. I feel very comfortable where we're at, confidence wise and talent wise."
As the men's and women's track and field team seems to be getting better and better each week, that extra confidence might be enough to knock off the defending Mountain West Conference champions of Brigham Young University Feb. 22-24 at the Air Force Academy.
