March 22, 2008

Malone Qualifies 11 Athletes To NAIA Nationals At Wake Forest Open; Three Athletes Take Event Titles

 
The Malone College men's and women's track & field teams started the 2008 outdoor season in impressive fashion as the team qualified a total of 11 athletes to the NAIA national meet and also won three events at the NCAA Div. I Wake Forest University Open last Friday and Saturday.  A total of 52 mostly NCAA Div. I schools were represented.  According to head coach Charlie Grimes, the meet was "by far the best opening meet for us in recent years."     
 
For the women, Kalie Hauenstein (So., Ashland H.S.) posted a victory in the 10,000 meters in a time of 37:13.22, which was also an automatic NAIA national qualifying mark.
    
Others who automatically qualified for the women included Katie Bagley (Jr., Van Wert H.S.) in the 5000 meters (5th; 17:59.38) and Becky Rospotynski (So., Copley H.S.) in the pole vault (7th; 11' 5.75").
    
Other top efforts for the women included Sarah Hines (So., Northmor H.S.) in the 3000-meter steeplechase (5th; 11:55.22), Emily Grad (Fr., Field H.S.) in the 5000 meters (22nd; 18:55.66), Kristin Downing (Fr., Lake H.S.) in the 5000 meters (23rd; 18:58.78) and Lindsey Pifher (Fr., Colonel Crawford H.S.) in the 1500 meters (30th; 4:53.20) and in the 800 meters (55th; 2:24.06.).
    
For the men, Ryan Kienzle (Sr., GlenOak H.S.) captured the 10,000 meter event in a time of 30:03.07 to automatically qualify for the NAIA national meet while Aaron Melhorn (Fr., Fairless H.S.) was also an event winner as he took the 5000 meters in an NAIA auto qualifying time of 14:28.86.
    
Three other athletes notched NAIA auto qualifying marks - James Zeuch (Fr., Galion H.S.) in the 5000 meters (6th; 14:52.03), Justin Baum (Sr., Kenston H.S.) in the 10,000 meters (4th; 30:57.57) and Evan Gaynor (So., Delta H.S.) in the 10,000 meters (8th; 31:43.94).
    
Qualifying provisionally were Chris Sinick (So., Field H.S.) in the 1500 meters (9th; 3:56.77), Matt Nichols (Fr., Crestwood H.S.) in the 5000 meters (14th; 15:08.03) and Paul Robinson (So., Field H.S.) in the 10,000 meters (11th; 32:11.95).
    
Other top performances for the men's team included Chris Sinick in the 800 meters (14th; 1:54.77), Josh Gortney (Sr., Sandy Valley H.S.) in the pole vault (8th; 15' 1") and Mike Coates (Sr., Sandy Valley H.S.) in the 800 meters (32nd; 1:56.50) and in the 1500 meters (14th; 3:59.54).
    
This week, Malone will compete at the Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
 
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