Tracksters compete well at K-State

A contingent of Bulldogs journeyed to Manhattan on Saturday to participate in the KSU Invitational and came away with a solid set of performances in their season opening appearance.

Leading the way with school records were freshman Rachel Leuthold in the pole vault and junior Mark Watson in the seldom run 300 meter dash.

Leuthold’s fourth place clearance of 10’6” (3.20m) in the vault, behind three Kansas State University vaulters, bettered the old school record of 10’2” by Terra Simouneau, set in 2003.

Two Bulldogs just missed hitting the necessary mark to qualify for the NAIA National Indoor Championships.

Sophomore Andrea Swanson threw the shot a collegiate personal best 40’7.5” (12.38m), just four centimeters (1.5”) short of the necessary provisional qualifying mark, to finish third behind two Oklahoma State University throwers.

Senior Jordan King’s time in the 60-meter hurdles of 8.67 was only 0.17 second off the provisional national qualifier as his finished sixth.

Also, placing in the top were Oliver Williams, sixth in the 1-mile run, Brent Bailey in the 800 meters, and the men’s 4x400 relay.

“I was really pleased with our performance as a whole today,” said McPherson College interim head coach Ryan Jilka. “It’s a little scary, the first meet back from Christmas break, to see where the kids are at.”

“I thought Leterius Ray ran a great 800 for this early in the season and came back and ran a heck of a split leading off the 4x400.”

“We had a new school record, Rachel (Leuthold) in the pole vault, with a vault of 10’6”. Rachel looked really good today. She has been working hard with (assistant coach) John (Hudson) on getting onto a 13-foot pole for the last few weeks and came ready to compete today.”

“Andrea Swanson was close to a provisional mark in the shot put. Andrea had one of her best throws of her career today and can use this momentum to help her in the upcoming meets.”

“I was also pleased with David Parry’s 600-yards and Jordan King’s 60 high hurdles. Jordan was 0.17 seconds from a provisional mark.”

“We are off for a couple weeks and will be able to get some solid weeks of training in before we compete next at Lincoln on Feb 6th.”

Next on the Bulldogs abbreviated three-meet indoor schedule this winter will be a trip north to Lincoln, Nebr., on Feb. 6 and 7, for the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on the banked, 200-meter oval of the University of Nebraska.

In addition to Saturday’s meet at Kansas State, the Bulldogs will travel to Lincoln, Nebr., for the University of Nebraska Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on February 6-7, and to Warrensburg, Mo., for the Central Missouri Classic on Feb. 20.

Events at the Husker Invitational will begin at 12:00 noon on Friday, with Saturday’s schedule set to being at 9:30 a.m.

McPherson Results
KSU Invitational
January 17, 2009 -- Manhattan, KS
Ahearn Field House
(200 meter, flat track)
MEN —
60m Dash – Mark Watson 7.22 PBi
300m Dash – Mark Watson 38.57 SR; Jacob Kerbel 41.85; Evan Gurschick 43.77
600y Run – David Perry 1:20.14; Ben Cummins 1:22.85 PB
800m Run – 7. Brent Bailey 2:01.14 PB; Oliver Williams 2:01.77; Laterius Ray 2:03.80
1-Mile Run – 6. Oliver Williams 4:40.98; Shaun Griffin 5:08.47
60m Hurdles – 6. Jordan King 8.67; Jacob Kerbel 9.97
4x400m Relay – 7. McPherson 3:40.95
High Jump – Seth Williams nh
Triple Jump – Jesse Jackson 38-03.5 (11.67)
Shot Put – Drew Griffin 31-3.75 (9.54); Ben Denton 30-9 (9.37)

WOMEN –
Pole Vault – 4. Rachael Leuthold 10-6 (3.20) SR
Shot Put – 3. Andrea Swanson 40-7.5 (12.38) PR