May 31, 2003
LINCOLN, NE – The University of Iowa men and women’s track and field teams concluded the NCAAMidwest Regional Championships today on the Ed Weir Track Stadium. Two Hawkeyes joined senior JessieStrand and sophomore Alana Redfern in qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
For the women, senior Sarah Arens qualified for the NCAA’s in the 3,000-meter steeplechase afterfinishing fifth with a time of 10:42.42. This was only the second time that Arens has ever competed in theevent. The 1,600-meter relay consisting of sophomore Aisha Hume, seniors Nicole Charles and SarahSteffen and junior Shellene Williams finished fifth with a school-record setting time of 3:36.26. Theirrespective split times were 54.3, 53.9, 55.2 and 51.8. The quartet broke the school record of 3:38.95, whichthey set at the Big Ten Championships earlier this month. Williams narrowly missed qualifying for thenational meet, individually, in the 400 meters after she finished sixth with a time of 53.09.
The top fiveplacewinners in each event automatically advance to the NCAA Championships.On the men’s side, sophomore Bill Neumann earned the right to travel to Sacramento after earningthe top honor in the javelin throw. Neumann won the event with a throw of 227-0. Senior Tony Leickclaimed seventh place in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.16.
The Hawkeyes will next return to competition when they travel to Sacramento, CA, to compete in theNCAA Championships on June 11-14.
