Chipangama, Durocher Qualify for NCAA Indoor Championships
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The
Northern Arizona track and field team was in action for the
third-straight Saturday at the Walkup Skydome, and for the
second-consecutive week, the team collected NCAA provisional
qualifiers. Junior Jordan Chipangama and senior Curtis Durocher
both collected championship-qualifying marks for the Lumberjacks at
the Mountain T’s Invitational.
Chipangama landed his name on the provisional list with a
blistering time of 1:51.28 in the men’s 800-meter event. This
was the Zambia native’s first meet of the 2010 indoor season
as he has been recovering from an early-season injury.
“I was kind of nervous going into the race because I really
didn’t know how I was going to run indoors at altitude, but
at the end I felt fine,” said Chipangama, the fifth place
finisher at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
“Hearing friends cheer for you definitely helps (during a
race) and serves as motivation to do well.”
Joining Chipangama on the NCAA provisional list after
today’s meet is Durocher. The native Canadian recorded a
second-place mark of 19.79m (64-11.25) in the weight throw.
Finishing ahead of him was 2009 indoor weight throw national
champion Jason Lewis.
“He threw as far as I thought he would,” Durocher
said. “He came into the event throwing about 66 feet, and I
ended up throwing 65, so that was motivating trying to beat him. My
body and everything is fine and I am just ready to go to
nationals.”
Competing against some of the best competition in the nation made
Durocher believe he has what it takes to be a serious competitor at
the indoor championships.
“I know how strong I am now, and how far I can throw,”
Durocher said. “I will be in Iowa in two weeks, so I need to
fix a few things technically and it should be no problem to get to
nationals.”
Chipangama and Durcoher join senior Javier Villarreal (shot put)
and junior David McNeill (mile) as the four Lumberjacks who have
NCAA provisional qualifying marks so far this season.
Aside from the provisional marks
earned, NAU concluded another successful meet, claiming 11 more
qualifying marks for the Big Sky Indoor Championships. The
Lumberjacks had seven distance runners, one sprinter, one thrower
and one jumper meet the criteria for the conference
championships.
Junior John Yatsko (4:20.92) finished first in the mile run and
was followed closely by sophomore Ahmed Osman (4:21.48) who
finished second. Junior Haley Lawrence also qualified in the mile
crossing the stripe in 5:12.16.
The Lumberjacks had three runners qualify in the 3,000-meter run,
including freshman Tim Freriks (8:44.16) who finished first in the
men’s event, junior Ben Ashkettle (8:48.99) and sophomore
Kortnee Burton (11:02.15), the first place finisher in the
women’s run. The 3,000-meter time also gives Burton a
qualifying mark in the 5,000m.
Junior Shekila Wilkinson collected qualifying times in the
60-meter dash (7.84) and the 200-meter dash (25.14). The
TCU-transfer’s time in the 200-meter dash is good enough for
second in the conference.
Junior Josh DeKonty, Big Sky leader in the high jump, also
qualified for the long jump Saturday. His mark of 7.06m (23-02.00)
gives the Lumberjacks the top-three marks in the long jump thus far
this season in the conference. Freshman Charles White and junior
Thremaine Johnson are tied for the top-spot (7.08m).
Lauren Stuart qualified for the end
of the season championship meet by throwing 16.02 (52-06.75) in the
weight throw.
The Lumberjacks return to action next Saturday as they host the
NAU Team Challenge at the Walkup Skydome.
