The University of Iowa women’s track team provisionally qualified three student-athletes for the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday at the Husker Invitational. Seniors Shellene Williams and Michelle Lahann along with freshman Nikki Chapple all provisionally qualified with season and collegiate-best times.
Williams qualified for the second time this season in the 200 meters, winning the event in 23.62. Her previous qualifying mark was 24.11. Williams’ first place finishing time in the 200 meters also broke the Husker Invitational meet record which was set in 1990. This is the fourth consecutive week that Williams has won an event. Lahann provisionally qualified in the mile, finishing in third place with a time of 4:47.23. Freshman Nikki Chapple finished fifth in the 3000 meters with a provisional qualifying time of 9:34.17. The Hawkeye women’s team recorded nine season best and 10 collegiate-best times at the Husker Invitational.
On the men’s side, senior Tony Leick finished sixth in the 600 yard run with a time of 1:13.01 and teammate Jason Wakenight finished seventh. Senior Ken Kemeny brought home a seventh place finish in the shot put with a throw of 57-9. The 1,600 meter relay team of Zach Digney, Juan Coleman, Russell Peterson and Leick finished ninth in 3:15.82. The Hawkeye men’s team had five top ten finishes on the day.
The Hawkeye track and field teams will be spending Valentine’s Day in Ames, IA next weekend at the Iowa State Classic. Events will begin Friday, February 13 and continue on Saturday.