2008 Woodie Awards
Women take second, men third in MIAA
Jamie Arthur
Issue date: 5/10/07 Section: Sports
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It wasn't exactly the finish that Russ Jewett was expecting, but the Pittsburg State head track and field coach says he's not exactly disappointed either.
The outdoor conference season culminated last weekend with the Pittsburg State women snaring a second-place finish, while the men placed third at the 2007 MIAA championships in Hays.
"I expected us both to win," Jewett said. "In some ways, when you get closer to winning it's more disappointing. But when I had time to reflect, I was really proud of the women's team for fighting hard all the way ... the men's side, I think we had a few more glitches there."
The University of Central Missouri captured both team titles. The UCM women outscored the Gorillas 188 to 180 to win their third consecutive conference crown, as the men's squad picked up their sixth title in seven years with 159 points. Missouri Southern was second on the men's side with 132.5 points, just ahead of Pitt State (122.5).
Pittsburg State distance runner Venessa Lee successfully defended her titles in the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters, and then helped the Gorillas to a victory in the 1,600-meter relay. The junior tallied a team-high 22.5 points.
Senior Traci Werner provided a powerful punch in the throwing events, scoring 20 points with what Jewett called an "unexpected" victory in the discus. Werner won the event with a career-best throw of 145 feet, 2 inches. She also placed second in the hammer throw and fifth in the shot put.
Despite 13 top-three event finishes, Jewett says that in the end, the talent gap between UCM and Pittsburg State made an eight-point difference in the women's competition.
"Both teams performed better than they had coming in," Jewett said. "We just didn't have as much ammo as them is what it came down to."
Sophomore Brian Allen led the Pittsburg State men with 13 points, placing in three events. Allen was second in the shot put, fifth in the discus and eighth in the hammer.
Both Greg Clawson and Jeremy Jackson rebounded from injuries to post top-three finishes for the Gorillas.
"If you don't have those guys going into the conference meet, two guys that went to the national indoor championships, that really takes the wind out of your sails," Jewett said. "It gave us confidence to know that we had those guys."
Clawson, who sustained a back injury before the start of the outdoor season, cleared 6 feet, 9.75 inches to take second in the high jump. Jackson, after suffering a hamstring injury in late March, placed third in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.73 seconds and helped the 4x100 meter relay team to a second-place finish.
Athletes will have two more chances to qualify for the NCAA Division-II Outdoor Championships, with the Missouri Southern Last Chance meet in Joplin today (May 10) and the Emporia State Twilight meet in Emporia on Saturday, May 12.
The outdoor conference season culminated last weekend with the Pittsburg State women snaring a second-place finish, while the men placed third at the 2007 MIAA championships in Hays.
"I expected us both to win," Jewett said. "In some ways, when you get closer to winning it's more disappointing. But when I had time to reflect, I was really proud of the women's team for fighting hard all the way ... the men's side, I think we had a few more glitches there."
The University of Central Missouri captured both team titles. The UCM women outscored the Gorillas 188 to 180 to win their third consecutive conference crown, as the men's squad picked up their sixth title in seven years with 159 points. Missouri Southern was second on the men's side with 132.5 points, just ahead of Pitt State (122.5).
Pittsburg State distance runner Venessa Lee successfully defended her titles in the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters, and then helped the Gorillas to a victory in the 1,600-meter relay. The junior tallied a team-high 22.5 points.
Senior Traci Werner provided a powerful punch in the throwing events, scoring 20 points with what Jewett called an "unexpected" victory in the discus. Werner won the event with a career-best throw of 145 feet, 2 inches. She also placed second in the hammer throw and fifth in the shot put.
Despite 13 top-three event finishes, Jewett says that in the end, the talent gap between UCM and Pittsburg State made an eight-point difference in the women's competition.
"Both teams performed better than they had coming in," Jewett said. "We just didn't have as much ammo as them is what it came down to."
Sophomore Brian Allen led the Pittsburg State men with 13 points, placing in three events. Allen was second in the shot put, fifth in the discus and eighth in the hammer.
Both Greg Clawson and Jeremy Jackson rebounded from injuries to post top-three finishes for the Gorillas.
"If you don't have those guys going into the conference meet, two guys that went to the national indoor championships, that really takes the wind out of your sails," Jewett said. "It gave us confidence to know that we had those guys."
Clawson, who sustained a back injury before the start of the outdoor season, cleared 6 feet, 9.75 inches to take second in the high jump. Jackson, after suffering a hamstring injury in late March, placed third in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.73 seconds and helped the 4x100 meter relay team to a second-place finish.
Athletes will have two more chances to qualify for the NCAA Division-II Outdoor Championships, with the Missouri Southern Last Chance meet in Joplin today (May 10) and the Emporia State Twilight meet in Emporia on Saturday, May 12.
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