University of Minnesota Athletics
Samantha Sonnenberg Earns NCAA Berth
5/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Minnesota senior Samantha Sonnenberg is a two-time NCAA Indoor All-American in the pole vault but she has never made the field for an NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, until now that is. Sonnenberg captured a top-12 finish in the pole vault at the NCAA West Preliminary Meet in Eugene, Ore., to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 8-11.
Sonnenberg cleared a height of 13 feet, 5 1/4 inches to advance. Once the top 12 finalists are established the competition is complete and no actual winner is crowed.
Two Gophers competed in national quarterfinal races after advancing on Thursday, Alena Brooks in the 400 meters and Sharyn Dahl in the 400-meter hurdles. Brooks finished 15th with a time of 54.41 seconds. Dahl was also 15th in a time of 59.38 seconds. The top 12 from each of those events advanced.
The 3,000-meter steeplechase is also contested as a national quarterfinal. Katie Moraczewski placed 39th in a time of 10:42.78. She was one of the Gophers’ two redshirt freshmen to compete at the NCAA West Prelim. The other is Missa Varpness, who will run the 5,000 meters tomorrow.
Also competing for the Gophers on Friday were Nyoka Giles and DeAnne Hahn. Giles placed 25th in the 200 meters in a time of 24.27 seconds, while Hahn was 38th in the hammer with a throw of 173-9.
The NCAA West Prelim concludes on Saturday.
Sonnenberg cleared a height of 13 feet, 5 1/4 inches to advance. Once the top 12 finalists are established the competition is complete and no actual winner is crowed.
Two Gophers competed in national quarterfinal races after advancing on Thursday, Alena Brooks in the 400 meters and Sharyn Dahl in the 400-meter hurdles. Brooks finished 15th with a time of 54.41 seconds. Dahl was also 15th in a time of 59.38 seconds. The top 12 from each of those events advanced.
The 3,000-meter steeplechase is also contested as a national quarterfinal. Katie Moraczewski placed 39th in a time of 10:42.78. She was one of the Gophers’ two redshirt freshmen to compete at the NCAA West Prelim. The other is Missa Varpness, who will run the 5,000 meters tomorrow.
Also competing for the Gophers on Friday were Nyoka Giles and DeAnne Hahn. Giles placed 25th in the 200 meters in a time of 24.27 seconds, while Hahn was 38th in the hammer with a throw of 173-9.
The NCAA West Prelim concludes on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Srints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
DIST
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
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