Success comes to track team at Mount Vernon
Troy Moon - STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
The men's and women's track teams both traveled to Mt. Vernon last weekend to participate in the Hilltop Invitational hosted by Cornell College.
It was another great day for both teams as they continue break school records and qualify members for the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletes Nationals in March.
Women's Obsie Birru, freshman distance runner, has been breaking school records all season.
Two weekends ago, in at the University of Dubuque, Birru placed first in the 5,000 meter run in a school record time of 17:50.50 qualifying her in the A standard for Nationals.
Last weekend in Mt. Vernon, Birru placed second in the 800-meter run with an outstanding time of 2:23.86, which was also good enough for another school record.
Birru isn't just doing it by herself; she is also having success in relays.
The women's distance medley relay team had their best time of the year last weekend.
The team of McKelle Lacher, freshman; Tabatha Carlson, sophomore; Taylar Swartz, freshman; and Burru, finished with a school record time of 12:31.12, good enough to qualify them in the A standard for nationals.
This is the ninth fastest time in the entire NAIA so far this year.
Also qualifying for Nationals last weekend was Courtney Casper, junior. Casper qualified in the 55- meter hurdles finishing in 8.95 seconds, which was also good enough for the school record.
Senior Jordan Adams of has been having a great season. He is ranked 15th in the nation in the 35lb. shot put competition. Last weekend Adams won this event with a throw of 16.31 meters.
Titus Bland, who has already qualified for Nationals, has been having a great season so far. Bland teamed up with Phil Cooper, sophomore; Travis Barnes, freshman; and Jarvis Henderson, freshman, in the 4x400 meter relay.
The team finished in a time of 3:29.73, which was good enough for fourth place. Cooper also ran individually in the 400-meter dash and finished in a time of 52.45, good enough to earn him sixth place.
The Vikings next meet is Friday, Feb. 13, at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. After that, the team travels, to Sterling, Ill. for the MCC Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21.
It was another great day for both teams as they continue break school records and qualify members for the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletes Nationals in March.
Women's Obsie Birru, freshman distance runner, has been breaking school records all season.
Two weekends ago, in at the University of Dubuque, Birru placed first in the 5,000 meter run in a school record time of 17:50.50 qualifying her in the A standard for Nationals.
Last weekend in Mt. Vernon, Birru placed second in the 800-meter run with an outstanding time of 2:23.86, which was also good enough for another school record.
Birru isn't just doing it by herself; she is also having success in relays.
The women's distance medley relay team had their best time of the year last weekend.
The team of McKelle Lacher, freshman; Tabatha Carlson, sophomore; Taylar Swartz, freshman; and Burru, finished with a school record time of 12:31.12, good enough to qualify them in the A standard for nationals.
This is the ninth fastest time in the entire NAIA so far this year.
Also qualifying for Nationals last weekend was Courtney Casper, junior. Casper qualified in the 55- meter hurdles finishing in 8.95 seconds, which was also good enough for the school record.
Senior Jordan Adams of has been having a great season. He is ranked 15th in the nation in the 35lb. shot put competition. Last weekend Adams won this event with a throw of 16.31 meters.
Titus Bland, who has already qualified for Nationals, has been having a great season so far. Bland teamed up with Phil Cooper, sophomore; Travis Barnes, freshman; and Jarvis Henderson, freshman, in the 4x400 meter relay.
The team finished in a time of 3:29.73, which was good enough for fourth place. Cooper also ran individually in the 400-meter dash and finished in a time of 52.45, good enough to earn him sixth place.
The Vikings next meet is Friday, Feb. 13, at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. After that, the team travels, to Sterling, Ill. for the MCC Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21.
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