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OGDEN, Utah (Feb. 23, 2010) - The Big Sky Indoor Championship is now only two days away. The qualifiers have been set and we will be in Bozeman, Mont. to crown the 2010 Big Sky Champions.
The last weekend of the season still held some record breaking action.
Northern Arizona senior David McNeill broke a school indoor record for the second-consecutive week when he crossed the stripe in a altitude adjusted time of 13:39.32 in the 5,000m. The time gives the Australian native his second NCAA automatic qualifying mark of the season. His other mark is in the 3,000m.
Northern Arizona junior pole vaulter Jami Michaud cleared 12-7.5 to join McNeill as the second Lumberjack to rewrite the school’s indoor record book Friday evening. The former JUCO national champion shattered her previous school record of 12 feet.
Eastern Washington’s Nicole Luckenbach set a new school record in the weight throw and met the NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Her mark of 61-11.75 in the weight throw broke Jamie Martin’s throw of 60-9.5 set in 2002. Luckenbach’s throw was 5 1/2 inches over the provisional qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships of 61-6.25. She already qualified for the conference championships earlier this season.
Athletes of the Week
Women’s Track
Ally Dean, Weber State
Senior - South Ogden, Utah
Dean had a sterling meet capturing the Invitational 200 meter dash in a personal best time of 24.90. That is the ninth best time in WSU women’s indoor track and field history. She came back 20 minutes later to capture the Invitational 400 meters in a career best 55.06. That is the second best time in WSU history.
Also Nominated: Whitney Leavitt, EWU; Jennifer Walter, UM; Olivia Rider, MSU; Abby Weedor, NC
Men’s Track
David McNeill, Northern Arizona
Senior - Melbourne, Australia
McNeill broke a school indoor record for the second-consecutive week when he crossed the finish line in a altitude converted time of 13:39.32 in the 5,000m. The Australian native crushed the previous school record of 13:52.33 held by Henrik Ahnstrom during the 2005 season. McNeill now holds the nation’s two best times in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter events.
Also Nominated: Chad Butorac, EWU; Patrick Casey, MSU; Garrett Kidd, NC; Matt White, WSU
Women’s Field
Nicole Luckenbach - Eastern Washington
Senior - Snohomish Wash.
Luckenbach set a new school record in the weight throw and met the NCAA provisional qualifying mark this weekend. Luckenbach had a mark of 61-11.5 in the weight throw to break Jamie Martin’s throw of 60-9.5 set in 2002. Her throw was 5.5 inches over the provisional qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships of 61-6.5.
Also Nominated: Jessica Leslie, UM; Amanda Murphey, MSU; Jami Michaud, NAU; Natasha Bruins, NC; Alex Filiaga, WSU
Men’s Field
Joey Frank, Montana
Sophomore - Missoula, Mont.
Frank took advantage of his last opportunity to qualify for the Big Sky Indoor Championship when he hit a distance of 51-4.5 in the shot put at the MSU Bobcat Open this weekend. This is his first time qualifying for the conference indoor championship.
Also Nominated: Marlyn Anderson, EWU; Dustin Cichosz, MSU; Chris Struckman, WSU