University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
NCAA West Regional Championships
Hosch Breaks Own School Record, Punches Ticket to Oregon
5/28/2010 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 28, 2010
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships Central
Austin, TX - University of Northern Iowa junior Holli Hosch shattered her own school record in the 800 meter run by over one second on Friday evening at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships West Preliminary Rounds. The performance earned her an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12.
Hosch clocked in at 2:05.47, over a full second better than her previous school-record time of 2:06.84 set at the Musco Invitational in Iowa City on May 1. She now leads the UNI all-time best list in the 800 meters by nearly three seconds.
Hosch became the second Panther to earn an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Championships in Eugene, joining Olimpia Nowak who had previously locked up a spot in the heptathlon.
"We couldn't be prouder of Holli," stated UNI head track and field coach Dan Steele. "She ran like a veteran -- fearless throughout both the prelims and the quarterfinals. She's looking like somebody who is going to have a real shot at being an All-American in Eugene."
"It's terrific that the women's program has made such great strides, and she is the anchor of that group," added Steele.
UNI received solid performances across the board in the pole vault, as all three men competing posted a minimum of a season-best jump. Sophomore Daniel Gooris vaulted to a new lifetime-best of 5.25 meters (17'- 2.75") and took 14th place. Fellow sophomore Sam Kranz also cleared 5.25 meters (17'- 2.75") for a new outdoor personal-best mark and 16th place overall.
Senior Mike Beese cleared a season-best 5.10 meters (16'- 8.75") and took 22nd place.
The top 12 finishers qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Gooris and Kranz fell just short based on the number of misses at previous heights.
"You can't feel bad about the vaulters with the way they competed," Steele said. "It's too bad that they didn't get to Eugene to be rewarded for their great performances, but the reality is they all set season bests. Two of them set lifetime outdoor bests. You can't ask for more than a kid being at their best at the championship events."
Sophomore Giorgio Giurdanella also made his NCAA Championships debut, running 21.50 in the first round of the 200 meter dash for 32nd place overall.
Saturday will be the final day of competition at the West Preliminary Rounds. UNI will be represented by Courtney Landers in the hammer throw and the 4x400-meter relay quartet of Ellen Kindelsperger, Michaela Brungardt, Sam Cameron and Holli Hosch.
Players Mentioned
