Saturday, February 14, 2004

Valparaiso's women's track and field team split its squad up on Saturday afternoon, competing at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa and the Pepsi Challenge in Kenosha, Wis.

At Iowa State, Danielle Nunnelly (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) finished 41st in the mile with a time of 5:18.21. She then came back and turned in a time of 2:24.34 in the 800m run. Rachel Nelson (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit H.S.) finished 57th in the 800m crossing the finish line four seconds in front of Nunnelly with a time of 2:20.20. The Crusaders only other entrant was Elizabeth Whiting (Parma, Mich./Western H.S.). The senior placed 26th in the 3000m run with a mark of 10:21.19.

Outside of those three individuals, the rest of the squad ran at the Pepsi Challenge. In the sprints, Maggie Zellner (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) won the 400m dash with a time of 59.38 seconds, while Amanda Meyer (Somerset, Wis./Somerset H.S.) was right on her heels, finishing second with a time of 1:00.47. Laura Arloszynski (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield H.S.) turned in a fourth place finish for the Brown and Gold with a time of 7.45 seconds.

Amy Mikel (Lemont, Ill./Fenwick H.S.) was victorious by more than three seconds in the 800m run, setting a new meet record with a time of 2:20.54. Ashley Billstrom (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall H.S.) and Rachel Stoehr (Antigo, Wis./Antigo H.S.) led four Crusaders in the top-five in the 3000m run, finishing second and third respectively with times of 10:57.57 and 11:09.80.

On the infield, Holly Hagen (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) won the weight throw with a toss of 49'5", while teammate Rachel Liptak (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley H.S.) was fifth (43'8 ½").

Meyer also earned a sixth place finish in the pole vault, clearing 10'0".

Valpo will return to action on Friday evening as the Crusaders head to Romeoville, Ill. to compete in the Chicagoland Championships. The first event is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.