Ashland University's indoor track and field teams have earned an impressive six automatic and 19 provisional national-qualifying marks through the first four meets of the 2014-15 season.
Of the six Eagles are assured of heading to Birmingham, Ala., for the NCAA Division II Championships on March 13-14, five are seniors:
NCAA DIVISION II AUTOMATIC NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
MEN'S WEIGHT THROW – Zac Ball (SR) 71-feet-10 (Jan. 9 at Ohio State); Jared Conklin (SR) 70-feet-3 (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP – Jennifer Foster (SR) 5-feet-10½ (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
WOMEN'S SHOT PUT – Jamie Sindelar (JR) 52-feet-0 (Jan. 16 at Findlay)
WOMEN'S WEIGHT THROW – Jessica Bridenthal (SR) 68-feet-9 (Jan. 9 at Ohio State); Shatora Lewis (SR) 68-feet-3¼ (Jan. 24 at Geneva)
In the women's weight throw, Bridenthal is the national leader with her top season effort, Lewis is third and fellow senior Kim Habegger is fourth with her provisional mark of 62-feet-11½. Foster is tied for first in Division II with her top high jump mark, and Sindelar is second in the country in the shot put through the weekend.
Ball and Conklin are 2-3 in the country in the men's weight throw, and six Eagles make up the top 10 efforts so far this season in the event.
The following is Ashland's 19 provisional marks so far in 2014-15:
NCAA DIVISION II PROVISIONAL NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
MEN'S 400-METER DASH – Drew Windle (SR) 48.52 (Jan. 24 at Geneva)
MEN'S 60-METER HURDLES – Elijha Owens (SR) 7.98 (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
MEN'S SHOT PUT – Elijah Talk (FR) 56-feet-2½ (Dec. 5 at Kent State); Jason Zahn (SO) 55-feet-2 (Dec. 5 at Kent State); Zac Papay (SR) 54-feet-10¼ (Dec. 5 at Kent State); Zachary Smelcer (FR) 51-feet-10½ (Jan. 9 at Ohio State).
MEN'S WEIGHT THROW – Jordan Crayon (SO) 65-feet-4¾ (Jan. 16 at Findlay); Bryn Campbell (SO) 65-feet-4 (Dec. 5 at Kent State); Mack Taylor (SR) 63-feet-1½ (Jan. 24 at Geneva); James Clay Harris (SR) 62-feet-8 (Jan. 24 at Geneva); Clayton Jury (FR) 59-feet-9½ (Jan. 16 at Findlay); Jared Whitcomb (JR) 56-feet-8 (Jan. 16 at Findlay).
WOMEN'S 400-METER DASH – Irene Skinner (FR) 55.35 (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP – Rebecca Koval (SO) 5-feet-5 (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
WOMEN'S SHOT PUT – Jessica Bridenthal (SR) 48-feet-2½ (Jan. 9 at Ohio State); Shatora Lewis (SR) 47-feet-10 (Dec. 5 at Kent State); Megan Tomei (SO) 44-feet-4¾ (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
WOMEN'S WEIGHT THROW – Kim Habegger (SR) 62-feet-11½ (Jan. 9 at Ohio State); Megan Tomei (SO) 56-feet-3¼ (Dec. 5 at Kent State)
The Eagles will compete this week in both the Findlay Open (Jan. 30) and the Penn State National meet (Jan. 30-31).
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