Cougar Tracksters Produce Seven All-Americans, Three School Records in First Day of NCAA Indoors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (March 10) - The women's team sits in second place after the first day of competition with 22 team points, behind UCLA's 29, while the men are in the 19th position with 5 points, well behind leader Arkansas' 34.5.

Jim Roberts picked up the men's points with a 63'-6.25" heave to finish fourth in the shot put. Roberts, who came into the competition ranked first in the nation, earned his highest NCAA finish and his second All-American honor Friday. He finished sixth in last year's indoor nationals.

Kirsten Bolm led the way for the Cougars on day one, scoring eight points for her team on a third-place finish in the long jump (21'-4") and a seventh-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles (8.19). Bolm broke the school long jump record for the second time in three weeks, adding over an inch to her own mark, set at the MWC Championships Feb. 26.

Elizabeth Jackson took nearly nine seconds off her own school record in the 5,000 meters, placing third in the event in 15:56.83. Jackson earned an All-America letter for her finish and has now accumulated an astounding six All-American letters during her time as a Cougar. Also setting a new school record was the distance medley team of Lindsay Jones, Tara Haynes, Holly Gibbons and Susan Taylor. The quartet finished in second placein 11:11.45, more than five seconds faster than the previous record. The finish earned All-American honors for all four athletes. In preliminary action, Sherida Rogers won her heat of the mile qualifier in 4:46.23 to secure a spot in Saturday's final.

"We had very fine performances today, and I am extremely pleased with the results," said women's coach Craig Poole. "Elizabeth [Jackson] did a beautiful job in the 5,000, and Susan Taylor came through with a Spartan performance in the anchor leg of the distance medley. It's been a good meet so far, and we're excited about where we can finish tomorrow."

Saturday is the final day of competition in the NCAA Indoor Championships. On the men's side, pole vaulters Jeff Hansen and Alan Gulledge are set to compete, while the women have Laura Heiner (3000m), Jeana Bingham (high jump), and Sherida Rogers in the mile final.