This weekend was successful for both UW track teams as they obtained NCAA qualifying marks. Competing in the Stanford Invitational and the Jim Click Shootout, the men's team acquired nine spots, while the women's team picked up three spots.
Sophomore Tim Nelson had a strong performace for the Badgers at the Stanford Invitational in the 10,000 meters. Nelson finished ninth with a personal best of 28:45.32 to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Senior Antony Ford also qualified in 16th place and junior Bobby Lockhart set a provisional qualifying mark. Rounding things out at the Stanford Invitational was senior Tim Keller, who qualified for the NCAA Mideast regional in the 5,000 meters.
On the women's side, sophomore Katrina Rundhaug had some spring in her step, beating her personal best by almost a minute and a half to finish 10th and automatically qualify for the Outdoor Championships. Her time of 33:45.03 seconds was seventh best all-time for UW women's track. Meanwhile, sophomore 'A Havahla Haynes qualified for the Mideast Regional with a 10th place finish in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
The Badger men fared even better at the Jim Click Shootout, winning two events outright. Junior Alonzo Moore took down the field in the triple jump, qualifying for the NCAA regional with a mark of 51'1.75'. Junior Brian Boettcher won and qualified in the high jump with a mark of 7'0.5'.
Joining them at the NCAA regional will be sophomore Joe Thomas and the 4x100-meter relay team of Brian Calhoun, Dan Goesch, Jvontai Hanserd and Demi Omole. Thomas qualified for two events, with a fourth place finish in the shot put and fifth place in the discus. The relay team finished third with a time of 40.65.
The women fared well at the Shootout, but gained only one qualification for the regional. Sophomore Michelle Bellford finished second in the triple jump with a jump of 40'3.25' to attain the lone regional qualification. The rest of the team had many second, third and fourth place finishes, but it was not enough to qualify.
The women will next compete on April 6-9 while the men will compete April 9.
