Underclassmen Angela Musk (New Hope, Ky.) and Robert Sandlin (Frankfort, Ky.) each set new school records and improved their NCAA provisional qualifying marks in the 1500 meters Friday, May 11 at the Cardinal Twilight Track & Field competition.
A dozen or so athletes from the Bellarmine T&F program competed in the "last chance" meet opportunity on the University of Louisville campus to improve or earn a spot on the NCAA provisional qualifying list, and ultimately gain selection to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Musk and Sandlin each produced strong efforts that should put them in a good position to warrant a trip to the NCAA National T&F Championships scheduled for later this month in Pueblo, Colo. The NCAA will select the top 14-18 'declared' athletes in each event for participation in the National Championships.
Musk recorded an effort of 4:29.14 (= 4:48.8/1600), placing sixth overall. Going through quick early splits of 2:20.5 and 3:32.9, Musk moved into third place with 250 meters to go and just held on to earn her final mark. Sandlin finished with a flurry over the last 200-300 meters, clocking 57.1 for his final 400 meters to earn a time of 3:49.44 (= 4:06.1/1600) good for a fifth place finish. Both Musk and Sandlin were the top 'non-Division I' finishers in their respective races.
Sophomore Meghan Jones (Greenville, Ind.) continued her impressive spring by earning a runner-up finish in the open 400 meters (55.52) and providing an exciting anchor leg (54.4r) for the team's winning 4x400 relay squad that produced a new school best, and NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 3:48.16. Jones ran down the anchor leg from Eastern Illinois University (the OVC champion) from some 20 meters back to give the relay quartet their win. Sophomore Betsy Goodin (Lexington, KY), added a strong 56.6r leg, and was joined on the relay by fellow sophomore, Maddie Roark (Flatwoods, KY - 58.3r), and senior Kate Mastronicola (Indianapolis - 58.7r - lead leg).
The men's 4x400 relay was equally as impressive also running a school best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 3:13.91. The men's foursome earned a third place finish behind the Big East runner-up South Florida, and OVC champ, Eastern Illinois. The relay included, juniors Jared Findlater (Marengo, Iowa - 49.9r - lead leg), and Sean Klosterman (Louisville - 47.8r), plus sophomore, Nate McKinney (Independence, Ky. - 48.6r), and senior anchor leg, Joey Kiefer (Evansville, Ind. - 47.5r).
Klosterman, and McKinney, joined fellow sprint athletes, Will Saucer (Evansville, IN), and Damar Williams (Jackson, MI), to add a win in the 4x100 relay as well. The relay produced yet another school best with their 41.55 mark for the short sprint relay. Williams had earned a spot in the 100 meter final (11.00) earlier in the evening, while Saucer recorded a 200 meter effort of 22.14 as well.
Hurdler/Jumper Nora Bowe (Aurora, IL) also had a good meet, earning a seventh in the High Jump (5-4 1/4 - 1.63m), and a sixth in the 100m Hurdles (14.92).
The Bellarmine program will now wait to hear on the NCAA 'selections' for the National Championship fields. Those selections are expected to be made on Monday.
Among the program's athletes and relays that earned NCAA Provisional qualifying marks, four individuals are considered strong candidates for selection at this point. Besides Musk, and Sandlin, both Meghan Jones (400m/55.08), and Indoor All-American, Bryan Gennett (Indianapolis - Pole Vault/15-10), appear to have a good chance to warrant the trip as well.
