Spartans Set Two School Records in Relays
May 17, 2013 | J.Crane
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Dubuque Track and Field teams looked to finish the season on a high note with school records and national championship qualifying performances in their last races of the season. The Spartans traveled to UW-La Crosse on Thursday, May 16th for the UW-L Last Chance Meet and finished the regular season on Friday, May 17th at the North Central College Last Chance Meet. The UD women set two school records while the men posted two NCAA DIII Championships qualifying performances.
The Spartans 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay each set school records. The 4x100 team of Randi Bodish (Guttenberg, Iowa/Clayton Ridge), Tieisha Starks (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan), Nikki McKenzie (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd), and Rachael Busjahn (Sobieski, Wis./Pulaski) finished with a time of :48.90 seconds to beat the previous school record from 2012 by .10 seconds.
Busjahn and McKenzie were joined by Kelley Hauber (Ridgeway, Iowa/South Winn.) and Kim Trinco (Schaumberg, Ill./JB Conant) in the women’s 4x400m relay to set the second school record of the day for UD. The 4x400 team finished in 4:01.41 to beat the previous record by 1.63 seconds.
"Relay records mean much more than having four fast women, it means you have a faster, better team,” said Head Coach Chad Gunnelson.” Our women have worked so hard this year and they thrive in relays, so to have them walk away tonight with this feat is a tribute to their efforts. They earned it, they did it! I'm proud of them."
On the men’s side, UD recorded two performances that will put them in position for possible NCAA Championships qualifiers. Corey Broussard (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) finished fifth in the 100m prelims at :10.86 seconds to qualify for the finals. In the finals, he tied his personal best time of :10.73 seconds to take fourth place. Dubuque alumnus Davivorn Dowe finished sixth in the 100m dash finals.
Christopher Watson (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) reached his personal best height of 6’-8.0” (2.03m) once again in the high jump to finish in second place. Watson was the top Division III finisher in the field of 17 competitors. Antwone Lindsey (Gulfport, Miss./Gulfport) took fifth clearing 6’-3.25”.
The men’s 4x100m relay was also looking to post a time which would get them into the outdoor championships. The Spartans team of Broussard, Tyrone Galvin (Madison, Wis./Madison East), Payton Hanson (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville), and Phillip Jones (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) finished with a time of :41.78 seconds to place fourth. All three teams ahead of UD are positioned to qualify for championships with UW-La Crosse owning the fastest time in the nation. UD would also run at the North Central Last Chance Meet on Friday and finished with a time of :42.69 seconds.
