Bobcats Head to Regionals
5/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
More than 250 student-athletes representing 42 schools compete in the regional meet. The regional meets, in conjunction with elements of regular season performance, determines the field for the 2008 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. The top five finishers in each event advance automatically the NCAA Championships, along with an uncertain number (possibly six or seven) others from each event.
Bobcat coach Dale Kennedy said his contingent of 12 competitors is ready to go. "I think our kids are excited and well-prepared," Kennedy said. "Kim Berg is battling an Achilles (tendon) injury, but everyone else is healthy."
Berg, a four-time Big Sky Conference javelin champion, suffered her injury on her second throw at this spring's league championship meet. "She won the championship on an injured leg," Kennedy said. "It was an amazing performance. She's in a walking boot this week, but I think she'll compete and I know she'll give it her best."
The 10th-ranked woman in the Midwest Regional, Berg has a solid chance of advancing to the NCAA Championships regardless of her performance in Lincoln. Men's javelin thrower Nick Lam, a sophomore from Billings, is also ranked 10th in his event. Allison Jones (8th, hammer throw, Harlowton) and Nathan Palmer (9th, hammer throw, Helena) also enter the meet as highly-ranked competitors. Dan Johnson, perhaps the most accomplished sprinter in school history, is 13th in the region in the 400. The Livingston native looks to advance to his first NCAA Championship meet.
"These kids all have competition in this kind of meet," Kennedy said, "and I have to think that helps. It can only be a positive."
BOBCAT RANKINGS
Athlete (Event), class, hometown: Regional rank, NCAA rank
Allison Jones (HT), so., Harlowton, MT: 8th, 46th
Nathan Palmer (HT), sr., Helena, MT: 9th, 68th
Kim Berg (Jav), sr., Kremlin, MT: 10th, 23rd
Nick Lam (Jav), so., Billings, MT: 10th, 30th
Dan Johnson (400), jr., Livingston, MT: 13th, 41st
Kris Schaffer (SP), so., Pierre, SD: 15th, 48th
Lena Suek (Jav), fr., Havre, MT: 18th, 68th
Emily Tyrrell (Jav), fr., Grand Forks, ND: 16th, 57th
Dan van Swearingen (Jav), jr., Great Falls, MT: 21st, 68th
Taylor Hensen (Jav), sr., Deer Lodge, MT: 23rd, 84th
Allison Jones (SP), so., Harlowton, MT: 25th, 112th
Dustin Degen (Jav), jr., Missoula, MT: 28th, 100th
Bobcat coach Dale Kennedy said his contingent of 12 competitors is ready to go. "I think our kids are excited and well-prepared," Kennedy said. "Kim Berg is battling an Achilles (tendon) injury, but everyone else is healthy."
Berg, a four-time Big Sky Conference javelin champion, suffered her injury on her second throw at this spring's league championship meet. "She won the championship on an injured leg," Kennedy said. "It was an amazing performance. She's in a walking boot this week, but I think she'll compete and I know she'll give it her best."
The 10th-ranked woman in the Midwest Regional, Berg has a solid chance of advancing to the NCAA Championships regardless of her performance in Lincoln. Men's javelin thrower Nick Lam, a sophomore from Billings, is also ranked 10th in his event. Allison Jones (8th, hammer throw, Harlowton) and Nathan Palmer (9th, hammer throw, Helena) also enter the meet as highly-ranked competitors. Dan Johnson, perhaps the most accomplished sprinter in school history, is 13th in the region in the 400. The Livingston native looks to advance to his first NCAA Championship meet.
"These kids all have competition in this kind of meet," Kennedy said, "and I have to think that helps. It can only be a positive."
BOBCAT RANKINGS
Athlete (Event), class, hometown: Regional rank, NCAA rank
Allison Jones (HT), so., Harlowton, MT: 8th, 46th
Nathan Palmer (HT), sr., Helena, MT: 9th, 68th
Kim Berg (Jav), sr., Kremlin, MT: 10th, 23rd
Nick Lam (Jav), so., Billings, MT: 10th, 30th
Dan Johnson (400), jr., Livingston, MT: 13th, 41st
Kris Schaffer (SP), so., Pierre, SD: 15th, 48th
Lena Suek (Jav), fr., Havre, MT: 18th, 68th
Emily Tyrrell (Jav), fr., Grand Forks, ND: 16th, 57th
Dan van Swearingen (Jav), jr., Great Falls, MT: 21st, 68th
Taylor Hensen (Jav), sr., Deer Lodge, MT: 23rd, 84th
Allison Jones (SP), so., Harlowton, MT: 25th, 112th
Dustin Degen (Jav), jr., Missoula, MT: 28th, 100th
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
