Track & Field

Apr 22, 2008
Stangler, Erickson, Evans, Henderson, Mokaya, Parkes and Rodgers Named Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Brittany Henderson

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Rachel Stangler of Augustana, Emma Erickson of South Dakota, and Brittany Henderson & Denise Mokaya of Minnesota State have been named the North Central Conference Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week while Shaneaka Parkes of South Dakota and Kelvin Rodgers of Minnesota State have been named the North Central Conference Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week.

Stangler, a senior from Albany, Minn., posted a school-record time of 10:40 to finish 12th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays. The mark is the second best performance in NCAA Division II competition this year and an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Erickson, a freshman from Gayville, S.D. broke the school record with a time of 2:07.57 to finish second in the 800-meter run at the Mount SAC Relays. The mark is the best performance in NCAA Division II competition this year and an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Evans, a senior from Roseau, Minn., ran the top time in NCAA Division II competition this year with a 4:24.66 clocking in the 1500-meter run at the Mount SAC Relays. The time is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a new school record. She also finished fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.71, a personal best time.

Henderson, a sophomore from Milwaukee, Wis., won the 100-meter dash at the Mt. SAC Relays with a school-record time of :11.47. She also placed fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.05, just .05-seconds off the school record. Both times are the second fastest in NCAA Division II this year. The 100 time is an automatic qualifier while the 200 time is a provisional qualifier for the national meet.

Mokaya, a sophonore from Ngong, Kenya, finished fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.05 at the Mount SAC Relays. The time is the third fastest in NCAA Division II competition this season. He was also a member of the third-place 4x400 meter relay.

Parkes, a junior from St. Ann, Minard Hill, Jamaica, recorded one automatic and provisional qualifying performances. She had a throw of 149-0 in the javelin at the Mount SAC Relays, which is the third longest throw in Division II this season and an automatic qualifying distance for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Parkes also had a toss of 142.01 in the javelin at the Long Beach Invitational, a provisional qualifying mark.

Rodgers, a sophomore from East St. Louis, Mo., finished second in the long jump at the Mount SAC Relays with a leap of 23-5 1/2. This distance is a provisional-qualifier for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Others nominated: Track Male: Tyler Wetering, South Dakota; Mark Barclay, North Dakota; Gabe Udia, St. Cloud State; Jared Clementson, Minnesota Duluth. Track Female: Heidi Evans, North Dakota; Liz Palkie, Minnesota Duluth. Field Male: Ben Walters, South Dakota; Drew Thomas, North Dakota; Matt Kleffman, Minnesota Duluth. Field Female: Kaitlin Rains, Minnesota State: Lindsey Schultz, Augustana; Jessica Clausnitzer, North Dakota; Amanda Kunkel, St. Cloud State; Melissa Smith, Minnesota Duluth.