Four head to USATF Junior/Senior Nationals

Jerry Hoffman

All-American Suzy Bozin will compete in the high jump and senior Kari Karhoff will compete in the 400m hurdles. Bozin tied the qualifying mark with her jump of six-feet during the indoor track season. Karhoff ran a 58.20 last week at the University of Michigan, getting under the qualifying mark of 58.60.

“We hope both can perform well and be in the top eight. Really the main thing is getting these athletes to compete at their best, and if they do they we feel they have a shot of making the U.S. Team,” said Women’s Track and Field Head Coach Kathleen Raske.

The top eight finishers will make the U.S. Team and have a shot to compete in the Pan-Am Games.

Freshman Jenny Roberts will compete in the USATF Junior Nationals during the same time period.

Roberts will compete in the 100m and 200m. She qualified with a 11.99 and a 24.49, both of which were ran at the MAC Outdoor Championships. The qualifying standard for the 100m was 12.04 and 24.64 in the 200m.

This year’s Junior Nationals will serve as the selection meet for the World Junior Championships that will be held in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16-21.

The two highest finishers at the Junior Nationals who have met the World qualifying standard will be eligible.

Raske said for Roberts this is an opportunity to gain national experience and compete at a high level.

If Roberts doesn’t finish in the top two or three she still may make a relay team with a high finish.

Raske said this may be the first year that Junior and Senior Nationals take place together in the same venue.

“It is very motivating for them to be able to compete with and meet our Olympians,” Raske said.

The men’s team will be taking redshirt freshman Nick Stout. Stout will be competing in the 400 IM hurdles. He qualified with a time of 52.67. The qualifying standard is 53.60.

“He ran the second fastest time in the conference but we redshirted him,” said Assistant Head Coach Craig Fuller.

Last year the men’s team took six athletes.

“Every kid we had taken last year scored points for us in the MAC meet this season,” Fuller said. “It is good for them because when the MAC meet gets here they look at it and see no reason why they can’t score points.”

Fuller said the experience will be even bigger with the juniors mixed in with the seniors.

“It is a high pressure meet, but it should be really good for him. Stout has a shot to make the U.S. National team,” Fuller said.

Three years ago Luke Humphrey made the National team for the Chippewas.