Tucker Earns NCAA Automatic Qualification

April 22, 2002

Junior Mark Tucker continued his impressive spring performance and became Butler's first NCAA automatic qualifier this spring with a school-record effort in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Friday, April 19. The Butler ace placed sixth in the elite field at the California meet in a school-record 8:42.5 to better the automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Tucker was among a contingent of Butler athletes who traveled to California with head coach Joe Franklin to compete in the Mt. Sac Relays, the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational and the Long Beach State Invitational. The Butler distance runner from Geelong, Australia, broke his own school mark in the steeplechase by five seconds, and he took over the No. 4 ranking in the NCAA Division I. Tucker also ran in the 1,500 meter race and missed a lifetime best by .09 with a time of 3:45.89.

Franklin had plenty to smile about in both California and Indiana. Tucker was just one of a host of Bulldogs who turned in lifetime bests over the busy weekend. Sophomore Trent Elliott posted lifetime bests in both the 110 meter hurdles (15.41) and the 400 meter hurdles (53.01) at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. His time in the 400 hurdles missed the Butler record by just .001!

Also turning in lifetime bests for the Bulldogs over the weekend were junior Marty Fedmowski in the 10,000 meter run (30:12.31), junior Phil Yoder in the 5,000 (14:27.11), junior Chris Studer in the 5,000 (16:47.24), sophomore Brian Dunn in the 1,500 (3:58.19), and freshman Brandon Waggonner in both the 200 (23.14) and 400 (49.73).

In the field events, freshman Corey Norman had a lifetime best in the pole vault (13-8), while junior Eric Michielutti (141-01) and freshman Chris King (140-05) each turned in lifetime bests in the discus.

Highlighting the performance of Butler's women track and field athletes was the lifetime best effort of junior Lissa Vogley in the 5,000 meter run at the Mt. Sac Relays. Vogley finished the race in 17:31.29.

Freshman Aubrie Nelson also had a lifetime best and just missed a school-record when she finished the 200 meter dash at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in 26.28. Butler's record in that event is 26.07, set by Christi Broadus in 1994.

Senior Andrea Stehman turned in a lifetime best in the 800 meter run with a team season-best time of 2:16.12 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.

BUTLER RESULTS, 4/19-20

MT. SAC RELAYS: Men - 10,000: Marty Fedmowski (30:12.31), Brad Bennett (30:43.62), 3,000 Steeplechase: Mark Tucker (8:42.5), 5,000: Phil Yoder (14:27.11), 1,500: Mark Tucker (3:45.89). Women - 5,000: Lissa Vogley (17:31.29).

POMONA-PITZER INVITATIONAL: Men - 200: Mark Adams (23.84), 1,500: Richard Vint (3:46.38), Nathan Dosanjh (3:51.91), 5,000: Chris Studer (16:47.24), 110 Hurdles: Trent Elliott (15.41), Brandon Baker (16.55), 400 Hurdles: Trent Elliott (53.01), Brandon Baker (56.91), High Jump: Ryan Falquist (5-10.75), Shot Put: Eric Michielutti (46-08), Chris King (45-01), Discus: Eric Michielutti (141-01), Chris King (140-05), Hammer: Matt Blake (160-09). Women - 100: Aubrie Nelson (12.98), 200: Aubrie Nelson (26.28), 400: Kara Lake (59.20), 800: Andrea Stehman (2:16.12), Maria Jusseaume (2:16.30), Audra Withers (2:29.13), 1,500: Kelly Moring (4:48.01), 400 Hurdles: Christina Hayden (1:23.32), Steeplechase: Danielle Ooten (11:32.11), Pole Vault: Jill Snyder (9-06), Hammer: Leslie Propst (102-11), 10,000: Megan Dexheimer (40:59.77).

LONG BEACH STATE INVITATIONAL: Men - 100: Trent Elliott (11.40), 100 Hurdles: Trent Elliott (15.81), Brandon Baker (16.51), Steeplechase: Phil Yoder (10:03.9), Shot Put: Chris King (45-00.5), Eric Michielutti (43-06.5), Hammer: Matt Blake (155-09.5). Women - 100 Hurdles: Christina Hayden (21.22), 400: Maria Jusseaume (1:00.13), Aubrie Nelson (1:01.31), Andrea Stehman (1:02.32), Audra Withers (1:06.96), 1,500: Kelly Moring (4:52.68), Lissa Vogley (4:59.98), Danielle Ooten (4:57.70), Hammer: Leslie Propst (116-09.5).

BUTLER INVITATIONAL: Men - 100: Kofi Anokwa (11.73), Corey Norman (12.15), Joe Tanksley (12.81), 200: Brandon Waggonner (23.14), Kofi Anokwa (23.37), Russ Mann (23.59), 400: Brandon Waggonner (49.73), 1,500: Brian Dunn (3:58.19), 5,000: Nick Karas (16:01.32), Chester Bennett (16:27.87), High Jump: Tommy Mathews (6-02), Pole Vault: Corey Norman (13-8), Javelin: Rob Hartman (115-08). Women - 200: Arletrice Highsmith (28.90), 400: Rholonda Ash (58.34), Arletrice Highsmith (1:04.23), 800: Rholonda Ash (2:16.80), Steeplechase: Monika Schneider (11:51.95), High Jump: Kaylee Quilling (5-00).