Women's track and field team go 5-0
Blugolds go undefeated in opening meets with conference matchup ahead, ranked No. 2 in national poll
Andy Weise
Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: Sports
Both relay teams took first as well. The 4x200 relay team, which consisted of Kooistra, Faller, Holt and sophomore Alyssa Reindl, finished at 1:47.24. The other relay team, the 4x400, topped the event with a time of 4:08.63. That group consisted of Kooistra, Faller, Reindl and freshman
Sarah Stirdivan.
The team has also had a lot of success in the pole vault in the meets before this past weekend. Junior Stephanie Barnes had taken the winning honors in the event three out of the first four meets. Most recently at St. Olaf (Minn.) on Feb. 11, she broke the Eau Claire school record with a distance of 3.89 meters. Coincidentally, she also beat the record at that site with a 3.66 meters, which also had previously belonged to her.
The team will head to St. Olaf Friday in a pre-national meet that won't be scored but will be where the nationals are held on March 10 and 11.
"We've all ran there before so it will be another time to see the facility," Bocher said. "We're all hoping to improve our times."
Most of the women and their coach believe the biggest accomplishment this year was when they took first at UW-Whitewater on Jan. 28.
"It was a moment for a team when things turn around and have one thing that says you're good," coach Tracy Yengo said. "Momentum in sports is huge and it boosted us."
With the national ranking on their minds, the women still don't necessarily feel pressure as they head into the conference championships from March 3 to 4, Kota said.
"Our goal is top three as a team," she said. "There isn't pressure if we know everyone performs to their capabilities. We have a lot of personal records, people qualified for nationals or on the verge. (At conference) it's a good time to (get personal records) with the good competition for everyone to push themselves."
Bocher said the pressure was good pressure.
"It makes us do better," she said. "The last few years we've been doomed at fourth. There's a lot of pressure, but the top three - that is our focus."
Sarah Stirdivan.
The team has also had a lot of success in the pole vault in the meets before this past weekend. Junior Stephanie Barnes had taken the winning honors in the event three out of the first four meets. Most recently at St. Olaf (Minn.) on Feb. 11, she broke the Eau Claire school record with a distance of 3.89 meters. Coincidentally, she also beat the record at that site with a 3.66 meters, which also had previously belonged to her.
The team will head to St. Olaf Friday in a pre-national meet that won't be scored but will be where the nationals are held on March 10 and 11.
"We've all ran there before so it will be another time to see the facility," Bocher said. "We're all hoping to improve our times."
Most of the women and their coach believe the biggest accomplishment this year was when they took first at UW-Whitewater on Jan. 28.
"It was a moment for a team when things turn around and have one thing that says you're good," coach Tracy Yengo said. "Momentum in sports is huge and it boosted us."
With the national ranking on their minds, the women still don't necessarily feel pressure as they head into the conference championships from March 3 to 4, Kota said.
"Our goal is top three as a team," she said. "There isn't pressure if we know everyone performs to their capabilities. We have a lot of personal records, people qualified for nationals or on the verge. (At conference) it's a good time to (get personal records) with the good competition for everyone to push themselves."
Bocher said the pressure was good pressure.
"It makes us do better," she said. "The last few years we've been doomed at fourth. There's a lot of pressure, but the top three - that is our focus."
