Track & Field

Feb 5, 2008
Erickson, Saka, Liggins, Stelten and Wilson Earn Track and Field Honors

Emma Erickson

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Pinar Saka of Nebraska-Omaha and Emma Erickson & Terry Liggins of South Dakota have been named the North Central Conference Indoor Track Athletes of the Week while Laura Stelton and Nick Wilson of Minnesota State have been named the North Central Conference Indoor Field Athletes of the Week.

Saka, a junior from Istanbul, Turkey, posted the top time in NCAA competition (all divisions) this season with a 400-meter time of :53.61 in the prelims and then won the finals with a time of :53.77 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. Saka edged Nebraska's Sheryl Morgan at the tape for the win while Kansas State's Donniece Parrish was third.

Erickson, a freshman from Gayville, S.D., set a school and state record in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:09.30 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. The time, also the best time in NCAA Division II this season, eclipsed the 2:10.20 set by USD's Jennifer Munyan in 1997.

Liggins, a senior from Omaha, Neb., posted an NCAA automatic qualifying time of :08.00 in the prelims and then took fifth place in the finals with a :08.05 clocking in the 60-meter hurdles at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational.

Stelten, a freshman from Cologne, Minn., had a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 12-6 1/2 in the pole vault at the Minnesota Open and Pentathlon. She is the second MSU female student-athlete to have an automatic qualifying mark in the pole vault this season, the other being Katelin Rains.

Wilson, a senior from Mankato, Minn., had a NCAA provisional-qualifying performance of 15-9 1/4 in the pole vault at the Minnesota Open and Pentathlon. The vault placed him second in the event.

Others nominated: Track Male: Nate Pieper, Minnesota State. Track Female: Jenny Hoese, Minnesota State; Liz Palkie, Minnesota Duluth; Molly Clark, Augustana. Field Male: Tim Rust, South Dakota. Field Female: Natalie Stout, South Dakota; Elizabeth Crane, Minnesota Duluth.