Track and Field Teams Bring 26 Entrants to NCAA Outdoor Meet

Most teams need only cars or vans to transport their track and field qualifiers to the national meet, but the UW-Stevens Point men�s and women�s teams will need a full-sized bus to get all of their qualifiers to St. Paul, Minn. for this weekend�s NCAA Division III outdoor championships.

The Pointers have a staggering 26 qualifiers for the meet, which runs Thursday through Saturday at Macalester College. The women have 10 qualifiers, while the men have the most entries of any team with 16 participants. UW-La Crosse is second with 13 qualifiers.

However, there�s not necessarily always strength in numbers, since it usually comes down to the schools with the most national championship hopefuls. The top eight places in each event score team points and only four of UW-Stevens Point�s men�s qualifiers rank among the top eight in their respective event.

The Pointers� best chances for individual titles on the men�s side are in field events where Jeremiah Rolfs ranks fifth in the discus and Luke Hilgers ranks fifth in the hammer throw. Noah Eschenbauch ranks seventh in the hammer throw. Mike Mead, who won the 2000 Division III indoor high jump title, ranks fifth in the event entering the weekend.

The men�s team placed third at last year�s outdoor nationals and is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in the M-F Athletic Company national power rankings, which measure the deepest teams in the nation. If every team in the country were to bring its full squad to nationals, the poll suggests the Pointers would come out on top.

The UW-Stevens Point women�s team is ranked fourth in the power rankings and also has some individuals with chances for high finishes.

Senior Jody Butkowski, a Stevens Point native, finished eighth in the triple jump during the indoor season, but brings the nation�s fourth best outdoor mark into this weekend�s competition. Amanda Nechuta ranks fourth nationally in the shot put and Megan Lundahl has the sixth-best throw in the discus.

Senior Becky Lebak will conclude her outstanding career at UW-Stevens Point this weekend, carrying the sixth-best time in the 5,000 meter run and also competing in the 10,000 meter run.

The Pointers have three relays competing with the men�s 400 and 1600 meter relays and the women�s 400 meter relay.

Check out the Official 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Website