Sunday, January 18, 2004

Valparaiso's women's track and field team finished in fifth place at the Carthage Division I Invitational in Kenosha, Wis. on Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders tallied 84 points, trailing fourth place Wisconsin-Milwaukee by just three points. Marquette won the meet with 116.5 points.

Rachel Nelson (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit H.S.) posted a runner-up finish for the Brown and Gold in the 800m run with a time of 2:21.41, while Amy Mikel (Lemont, Ill./Fenwick H.S.) was sixth in the same event with a time of 2:27.50. Kristy Popp (Bowman, N.D./Bowman H.S.) also scored in the 800m for the Crusaders, finishing eighth (2:28.32).

Valpo had three placers in the mile, led by Elizabeth Kinneer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton H.S.). The senior finished fifth with a time of 5:21.47, with teammate Elizabeth Whiting (Parma, Mich./Western H.S.) finshing one place behind with a time of 5:23.33. Danielle Nunnelly (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) finished seventh (5:25.47).

Whiting also earned a fifth place finish in the 3000m run with a time of 10:33.17, while Amanda Lee (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon H.S.) was one place behind, crossing the line in 10:35.59.

Maggie Zellner (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) finished in sixth place in the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.45, while placing eighth in the 200m dash with a time of 27.82 seconds.

Valpo earned fourth place finishes in both the 4x200m and 4x400m relays on the afternoon.

In the infield, Amanda Meyer (Somerset, Wis./Somerset H.S.) was runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 10'0". Emilie Marsicek (Spalding, Mich./Carney-Nadeau H.S.) was second (8'6").

Martha Josephson (Detroit Lakes, Minn./Detroit Lakes H.S.) was sixth in the high jump, clearing 4'11 ¾".

Holly Hagen (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) finished second in the weight throw with a toss of 46'7 ½", while also placing eighth in the shot put (38'3 ½"). Rachel Liptak (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley H.S.) also scored for Valpo in the weight with a toss of 43'6 ½", finishing fourth.

Valpo will return to action next Saturday as the Crusaders travel to the Chicago Invitational.