Manning opens season setting records
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports
Western Illinois sophomore Nichole Manning reached a mark of 12-07.50 (3.84 m) to break the previous school record of 12-05.50 and open the 2009 outdoor track season at the Joey Haines Classic on Saturday, April 4.
Manning held the previous record, which she set last season. Her result at the opening meet of 3.84m was just shy of the 3.85 NCAA regional qualifying mark. Also finishing the pole vault in the top half was Brianne Marriot with a mark of 11-00.00 (3.35m), good enough for seventh of 18 competitors.
Nikki Klier finished third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.47, while freshman Amy Byers finished the 400 meter hurdles in second place with a time of 1:01.47.
"One of the highlights of the day is that it was 68 degrees and sunny, but it was windy so it was hard for people to run as fast as they possibly could," Western Illinois head track and field coach Mike Stevenson said. "It was a good way to start. Nichole Manning breaking the school record was the most exciting part of the day. Amy Byers went really fast in the hurdles for her first time ever doing it and Nikki Klier had a good day and placed high."
Kelsey Baumgartner, Klier, Ashley Yancy and ChrisDell Harris combined for a time of 48.33 in the 4x100 meter relay, just short of the 45.70 NCAA regional qualifying time. Yancy also took a fourth place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 39-07.25 (12.07m).
The Western Illinois track and field team will host the 20th annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational at Hanson Field on April 10-11.
Manning held the previous record, which she set last season. Her result at the opening meet of 3.84m was just shy of the 3.85 NCAA regional qualifying mark. Also finishing the pole vault in the top half was Brianne Marriot with a mark of 11-00.00 (3.35m), good enough for seventh of 18 competitors.
Nikki Klier finished third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.47, while freshman Amy Byers finished the 400 meter hurdles in second place with a time of 1:01.47.
"One of the highlights of the day is that it was 68 degrees and sunny, but it was windy so it was hard for people to run as fast as they possibly could," Western Illinois head track and field coach Mike Stevenson said. "It was a good way to start. Nichole Manning breaking the school record was the most exciting part of the day. Amy Byers went really fast in the hurdles for her first time ever doing it and Nikki Klier had a good day and placed high."
Kelsey Baumgartner, Klier, Ashley Yancy and ChrisDell Harris combined for a time of 48.33 in the 4x100 meter relay, just short of the 45.70 NCAA regional qualifying time. Yancy also took a fourth place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 39-07.25 (12.07m).
The Western Illinois track and field team will host the 20th annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational at Hanson Field on April 10-11.
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