Roundup: NCC’s Crain second in 5,000-meter run
from staff reports March 9, 2013 7:40PM
Updated: March 9, 2013 9:17PM
MEN’S TRACK
North Central takes eighth at nationals — North Central College juniors John Crain and Pat Foley both earned All-American honors Saturday at the Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships at Al B. Carius Track.
As a team, the Cardinals finished eighth with 17 points. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dominated the meet, with Wisconsin-La Crosse cruising to a national title after scoring 74 points. Wisconsin-Oshkosh finished a distance second with 40, with Wisconsin-Eau Claire (37 points) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (35 points) rounding out the top four.
With his second-place finish in the 5,000-meter run (14:28.92), Crain earned his first individual All-American award in track and field, to go with his cross country All-American certificate from the 2012 season.
“It’s been a really fun year,” said Crain. “Just progressing and coming close to my personal best in each race. Today I finished second and it’s a little bittersweet. It is a positive frustration that I am going to take into the outdoor track season.”
Crain was near the back of the field early on, but sprinted toward the front and led the pack when the bell sounded for the final lap. Unfortunately, he was unable to hold off Haverford College’s Chris Stadler on the back straightaway.
“My goal was to stay as relaxed as possible for the first two miles or so, and with a mile left to go just make a move and try to string out the field a little bit to make it a strength race,” Crain said.
Foley, a two-time national championship qualifier, earned his first All-American award, after finishing seventh in the 800-meter run in 1:56.58. Foley narrowly made Saturday’s finals, edging out Wartburg College’s Daniel Bonthius by .06 seconds.
Two-time All-American Zach Heerspink just missed making the podium for the third time, coming in ninth in the high jump. Heerspink easily cleared the opening height of 6’4.25”. He then cleared 6’6.25” on his second try, before bowing out at 6’8.25”.
In the meet’s final event, the Cardinals’ 4x400-meter relay team of Dayton Henriksen, Dionte Hackler, Derek Nelson, and Marlen Hamilton was disqualified.
WOMEN’S TRACK
NCC’S Stallworth ninth in shot put — North Central College sophomore shot putter Ebony Stallworth finished ninth in the Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday at Al B. Carius Track.
Seeded 12th of 15 competitors, Stallworth launched her best throw of the day (44’9”) on her first heave of the afternoon. She was the last qualifier for the final flight, but was unable to improve her position and earn a spot on the podium.
The Cardinals finished in 42nd place overall, with Elizabeth Composto scoring all four and a half of North Central’s points after she finished in a tie for fourth place on Friday in the pole vault.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh ran away with the team title after scoring 56 points. Illinois College came in second with 32 points, while Wisconsin-La Crosse (27 points) and Wartburg College (25 points) rounded out the top four.
GIRLS TRACK
Naperville Central second at Byron meet — The Redhawks compiled 90 points, finishing second to Wheaton Warrenville South (126) in the 15-team Byron Indoor Preview. Naperville Central’s 4-by-800 relay team (Allie Ciha, Nikki Hoffman, Stephanie Schaefer, Emily White) took first in 10:06.57, while the Redhawks’ Lauren Erickson ran a 7.53-second 55 meters to take first place. Mary Beth Blank (27.15) and Sam Ward (27.86) took second and third in the 200 meter dash.
