Track competes at Iowa State

Season highs from 12 athletes, including a second place finish in the shot put from senior thrower Derek Atwood and a top performance from last week's MIAA Athlete of the Week, senior jumper Jenny Zweifel, capped off the Bulldogs' weekend in Ames, Iowa at the Iowa State Open. 

Zweifel and Atwood led the Bulldogs in scoring with 24 of the team's 52 points scored during the weekend. Head coach John Cochrane said he was pleased to see the team doing exactly what he wants at this point during the indoor season.

"The main thing we want to see is improvement from week to week," Cochrane said. "I want them to do better than they did before and for [our younger players] to experience tough competition before the conference meet."

Truman athletes competed against more than 20 schools across Div. I and Div. II Athletics. Junior Ryan Peterson broke the 50 second mark for the first time during his career in the 400 meter dash, placing 11th, while junior Lisa Kucharski tied her season best mark in the pole vault event, reaching 10-06.00. Sophomore Becca Nelson set personal records competing in the 60-meter hurdles, the 200 meter dash, 600 yard run and long jump. 

Kucharksi said the big meet was an eye-opener for some of the younger runners, as it provided a chance to see tough Div. I competition that is equivalent to the strength of the MIAA.  

This year, the MIAA boasts the toughest competition in Div. II as it leads all conferences in student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships. During the outdoor season, the MIAA sent 50 men and 63 women to the 2011 NCAA Div. II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Turlock, Calif. Nelson said she thrives on the tough competition because it allows for individuals to grade themselves against the best of the best. 

"You see where you need to be and if you aren't there it really motivates you to work harder," she said.

Cochrane said a few players on the squad have real chances to place at conference and earn qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships slated for March 9 in Mankato, Minn. Cochrane said Zweifel, Atwood, Kucharski and junior distance runners Karen and Cindy Grauel have legitimate opportunities to compete against the elite in Division II. 

Zweifel now ranks fourth in Div. II Athletics with her triple jump mark of 39-02.50. She is ranked seventh in the long jump after posting a season-best 18-07.25, earning her first place honors last weekend and an NCAA Indoor Provisional Qualifying Mark, an effort good enough to currently earn her a spot in the Indoor Championships.  

"There is no doubt that conference is on our minds after this meet," Atwood said.  "Now we just need to improve each week." 

To improve his teammates, Atwood said he attempts to pass on tips and motivation he receives from his coaches to less experienced throwers to help them adjust to the rigors of collegiate athletics. 

 Atwood's tips appear to be helping. Freshman thrower Alex Cross set a personal record, finishing 12th in the shot put with a throw of 43-04.25. 

The Bulldogs do not race this weekend, but Nelson will compete in the Wartburg Pentathlon in Waverly, Iowa. Atwood said the off-week is important to do core strength building and conditioning to keep making progress. The full squad will be back in action Feb. 4, in Jacksonville, Ill., for the Dr. James Green Invitational at Illinois College.