March 1, 2008

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Assistant Track & Field Coaches Rita Arndt-Molis and Randy Gillon

Men's Results - Day 1
Women's Results - Day 1

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- The Michigan State men's and women's track & field teams finished up first-day competition at the respective Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday afternoon. MSU saw many athletes qualify for the finals in day two of competition on Sunday. Senior Nicole Bush led the way for the Spartans women, finishing third in the 3000m run with an NCAA provisional mark of 9:18.98. Red-shirt junior Jeremy Orr is set to compete in the finals of the 200m and 400m tomorrow afternoon, as he qualified in both events, coming in third with a time of 21.73 in the 200m, and second in the 400m with a finish of 48.13.

In addition to Orr, junior Shane Knoll qualified for the finals in the mile run, crossing the finish line at 4:11.18. Freshman Logan Lynch leaped his way to a six-way tie for third place, vaulting a height of 5.03m (16-6) in the pole vault, while sophomore Spencer Beatty came in ninth in the 3000m with a time of 8:23.70. The distance medley relay team of seniors Jim Pancoast and David Bills, and sophomores Jake Hamilton and Daniel Lewis came in seventh, finishing with a time of 10:02.46.

"I thought we had great performances on our men's side today," said MSU Director of Track & Field Walt Drenth. "I thought Logan Lynch competed exceptionally well in the pole vault today. He finished in a tie for third place, and for a freshman that is really impressive. Jeremy Orr has come through like I knew he would. He qualified for the finals in both the 200m and 400m, and ran well enough to get some good lanes tomorrow. I think having good lanes is something that will really help how he performs tomorrow. Shane Knoll ran very well today, and the distance medley team I also thought ran well, so I think we are in good shape after day one."

The men also stand in ninth place at the end of day one with seven points. Wisconsin sits in first with a score of 41, followed by Minnesota (34), Purdue (32), Michigan (21), Iowa (20), Ohio State (13), Penn State (11) and Illinois (10).

On the women's side, MSU will see Lisa Senakiewich in the finals of the mile run tomorrow, as she finished third in her heat with a time of 4:51.28. Senior Jackie Walton ran to an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8.37, finishing her heat in second place in the 60m hurdles. Sophomore Leah Elenbaas finished in eighth place overall in the 800m preliminaries, coming in with a finals qualifying time of 2:11.76, while senior Paris Mandy qualified for tomorrow's 60m dash, placing fourth in her heat with a mark of 7.66.

MSU's team of Senakiewich, Elenbaas, freshman Liz Watson and sophomore Emily MacLeod finished fourth in the distance medley relay, coming in with a time of 11:37.34.

"I'm really pleased with many of the women's performances," Drenth said. "Paris Mandy had a great run today in the 60-meter dash, and Jackie Walton is really running well, as she qualified with a provisional time today. Emily MacLeod and Nicole Bush I thought ran well today, which is good for the team. It's important to come out and have a strong first day, because a lot can happen in the second day.

After six events the women find themselves also in ninth place with 11 points. Minnesota leads the field with a score of 58 points, followed by Michigan (37), Penn State (33), Wisconsin (32), Iowa (16), Purdue (14), Indiana (13) and Illinois (12).

"I like how both teams are competing right now," said Drenth. "A lot can happen in the second day, so I think we've put ourselves in a position to succeed tomorrow. But we have to remember that it's important for us to come out and finish it in day two. That's what myself and our staff want to make sure our athletes understand, is that we have to come out tomorrow and fight, and finish the deal"

The Spartan prepare for the second day of competition tomorrow. The women's team will began at 12 p.m. CT in Minneapolis, Minn., while the men begin action at 10:30 a.m. CT in Madison, Wis.