University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women Pole Vaulters Highlight Northwest Open
1/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The Golden Gopher pole vaulters collected the top five places in the event, highlighting the Minnesota women’s track & field team’s season-opening performance at the Northwest Open at the University Fieldhouse on Saturday.
Sophomore Alicia Rue, the 2007 gold medalist last summer at the Junior Pan Am Games, cleared 12 feet, 11 1/2 inches to win the event and became the first Gopher to grab an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in 2008. Seniors Ashley Nord and Andrea Smith tied for second place with a height of 12-5, senior Laura Massey was fourth at 11-11 3/4 and Samantha Sonnenberg fifth at 11-11 3/4.
A current or former Gopher won each of the field events. Caitlin Roemhildt won the high jump with a height of 5-8 1/2 and had three quality attempts at the NCAA qualifying height of 5-10 marking a solid early-season performance. Christin Kingsley placed first in the long jump with an effort of 17-11 1/2, while Liz Podominick won the shot put with a throw of 48-6.
Two-time U.S. indoor triple jump champion and Gopher alum Shani Marks bettered her own University Fieldhouse record marking a distance of 44-0 1/2. Last year’s Big Ten weight champion and former Gopher Liz Alabi won the weight throw with a heave of 61-8 1/4.
The Gophers captured two titles on the track as well. Sophomore Chioma Omeoga won the 200-meter dash with a clocking of 26.25 seconds. Senior Dawn Solberg captured the win in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.77 seconds.
Minnesota plays host to the Minnesota Open on Saturday, Jan. 19, in its next competition. The first event gets underway at the University Fieldhouse at 11 a.m.
Sophomore Alicia Rue, the 2007 gold medalist last summer at the Junior Pan Am Games, cleared 12 feet, 11 1/2 inches to win the event and became the first Gopher to grab an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in 2008. Seniors Ashley Nord and Andrea Smith tied for second place with a height of 12-5, senior Laura Massey was fourth at 11-11 3/4 and Samantha Sonnenberg fifth at 11-11 3/4.
A current or former Gopher won each of the field events. Caitlin Roemhildt won the high jump with a height of 5-8 1/2 and had three quality attempts at the NCAA qualifying height of 5-10 marking a solid early-season performance. Christin Kingsley placed first in the long jump with an effort of 17-11 1/2, while Liz Podominick won the shot put with a throw of 48-6.
Two-time U.S. indoor triple jump champion and Gopher alum Shani Marks bettered her own University Fieldhouse record marking a distance of 44-0 1/2. Last year’s Big Ten weight champion and former Gopher Liz Alabi won the weight throw with a heave of 61-8 1/4.
The Gophers captured two titles on the track as well. Sophomore Chioma Omeoga won the 200-meter dash with a clocking of 26.25 seconds. Senior Dawn Solberg captured the win in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.77 seconds.
Minnesota plays host to the Minnesota Open on Saturday, Jan. 19, in its next competition. The first event gets underway at the University Fieldhouse at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
THR
/ Women's Track & FieldJU/SPR
/ Women's Track & FieldPV
/ Women's Track & FieldPV
/ Women's Track & FieldJU/SPR
/ Women's Track & FieldTHR
/ Women's Track & FieldJU
/ Women's Track & FieldPV
/ Women's Track & Field
PV
/ Women's Track & FieldHUR
/ Women's Track & Field
PV
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