Rudy, Lam Head for Nationals
5/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
It's old hat for Ellie Rudy. It's something altogether new for Nick Lam. And it's a waiting game for Kim Berg.
Those three Montana State track standouts all had successful weekends at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships at Drake University Friday and Saturday. Their performances landed them in - or nearly in - the NCAA Championships in Sacramento in June.
"It was a very exciting weekend for those three," MSU coach Dale Kennedy said of Rudy, Lam and Berg. "They all performed very well."
Rudy finished third in the pole vault with a mark of 13-7.75, and in so doing automatically qualified NCAA meet. She remains second in the nation heading to nationals, and said that despite failing to win a meet for the first time in 2007 felt good about her performance.
"I was so close to 14-feet," said the junior from Woodland Park, CO. "I was just not getting deep enough on the mat. I'd get way over (the bar), but knock it down on the way down. I'm still not even disappointed."
Lam, a freshman from Billings, finished third in the javelin with a toss of 213-5, automatically qualifying for the national championships. He hit his best throw on the second toss of finals, but said consistency was the key.
"I threw pretty consistent the whole meet," he said. "I knew I needed to get to 213 to place third. I was really almost shocked (to qualify for Nationals). It's a pretty big deal."
Kim Berg is also likely to qualify for the NCAA meet in the javelin by virtue of being ranked in the top 28 in the at-large pool. She stood 22nd before the weekend.
Kennedy said the day's most interesting performance belonged to senior Tanner Rauk, who missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the shot put by three inches. "It's a tough way to end," Kennedy said, "but a good way to end. It's tough to miss by so little, and he was in fifth until the last throw (which would have sent him to the NCAA), but he competed so much better here than at the Big Sky meet. In that regard, this is a good way for him to end his career."
Those three Montana State track standouts all had successful weekends at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships at Drake University Friday and Saturday. Their performances landed them in - or nearly in - the NCAA Championships in Sacramento in June.
"It was a very exciting weekend for those three," MSU coach Dale Kennedy said of Rudy, Lam and Berg. "They all performed very well."
Rudy finished third in the pole vault with a mark of 13-7.75, and in so doing automatically qualified NCAA meet. She remains second in the nation heading to nationals, and said that despite failing to win a meet for the first time in 2007 felt good about her performance.
"I was so close to 14-feet," said the junior from Woodland Park, CO. "I was just not getting deep enough on the mat. I'd get way over (the bar), but knock it down on the way down. I'm still not even disappointed."
Lam, a freshman from Billings, finished third in the javelin with a toss of 213-5, automatically qualifying for the national championships. He hit his best throw on the second toss of finals, but said consistency was the key.
"I threw pretty consistent the whole meet," he said. "I knew I needed to get to 213 to place third. I was really almost shocked (to qualify for Nationals). It's a pretty big deal."
Kim Berg is also likely to qualify for the NCAA meet in the javelin by virtue of being ranked in the top 28 in the at-large pool. She stood 22nd before the weekend.
Kennedy said the day's most interesting performance belonged to senior Tanner Rauk, who missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the shot put by three inches. "It's a tough way to end," Kennedy said, "but a good way to end. It's tough to miss by so little, and he was in fifth until the last throw (which would have sent him to the NCAA), but he competed so much better here than at the Big Sky meet. In that regard, this is a good way for him to end his career."
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
