University of Minnesota Athletics
Heather Dorniden Wins NCAA Midwest Region 800m Title
5/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Dorniden, starting in lane five, was in third place as the field broke the stagger after the first 200 meters. The 400-meter split came in at 63.2, with Wichita State’s Linda Feldberga and Dorniden leading the way. Texas El-Paso’s Fatimoh Muhammed dashed to the lead in the final backstretch but Dorniden positioned herself on Feldberga’s shoulder rounding the final curve. As Muhammed faded in the home stretch, Dorniden and Feldberga sprinted to the tape, with Dorniden taking the title with a strong kick to win in 2:07.55, nearly a half second ahead of Feldberga (2:07.91).
Julie Schwengler also competed in the 800 meters, placing seventh in a time of 2:10.74.
Emily Brown placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and will make her second appearance in the NCAA Championships in the event. Brown led early in the race, keeping a comfortable pace in the warm Texas evening, knowing that she only needed a top-five finish to advance to the national meet. With two laps to go, Colorado’s Jennifer Barringer crept ahead of Brown along the backstretch. Brown fell on the second barrier losing more ground on the leader but got up quickly to keep a 20-meter advantage over the next competitor. Brown maintained the spacing running to an easy second-place showing in a time of 10:33.54.
Liz Alabi earned her first trip to the NCAA Championships in the hammer and second overall (went in shot put in 2004), placing fifth with a throw of 194 feet, 11 inches. Nina Cotolupenco advanced to finals in the event and finished eighth with an effort of 189-10.
The two Golden Gopher pole vaulters both established new personal bests in Saturday’s long, grueling competition. Andrea Smith tied for fifth-place clearing a height of 13-3 3/4, the second-best vault in school history, but lost in a jump-off for the fifth Midwest Region qualifier to the NCAA Championships placing sixth. Laura Massey, the Big Ten champion, cleared 12-11 3/4, the third-best effort in Gopher history.
Minnesota also had two throwers compete in the discus. Jessica Stephan placed 11th with a throw of 165-4, while Liz Podominick was 18th with a toss of 155-3.
The Gophers concluded the event with its 4x400-meter relay finishing sixth in a season-best time of 3:39.81, the third-fastest clocking in school history. Minnesota won the slower first heat behind a great anchor lap by Dorniden. Running the first three legs of the relay were Katie Grundman, Kadian Douglas and Schwengler.
Minnesota will be presented by six athletes at the NCAA Championships: Liz Roehrig (heptathlon and long jump), Podominick (shot put), Radocaj (javelin), Brown (steeplechase), Alabi (hammer) and Dorniden (800m).
Minnesota scored a total of 51 points to place third in the Midwest Region team standings. Top-ranked Texas won the title with 93 points, followed by Texas A&M with 72.
Players Mentioned
