8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009
TRACK & FIELD
Wissel achieves provisional qualifying time
Team struggles overall despite senior's successful one-mile special
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
Colby Wissel was looking for a confidence booster. For the past few races, the Elm Creek, Neb., senior had been trying to qualify for indoor nationals in distance to no avail. However, this weekend Wissel got one step closer.
While most of the team com
peted in New York at the New Balance Invitational. Wissel and some of the Kansas track and field team returned to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the Husker Invitational. The previous week end the whole team competed in Lincoln at the Adidas Classic.
While many on the team struggled in their events this weekend, Wissel's performance in the one-mile special was the highlight for the lajhwawks as he took first place with a time of 4-minutes, 1.92 seconds. That meets the provisional qualifying time for nationals.
There were two different one-
mile events. Wissel competed in the "special" race because it consisted of runners who were considered faster. Wissel said it was also much later than the regular one-mile event.
Wissel said it was nice for him
"It was a confidence booster moving on to the latter part of the season."
"In a way I'm happy to run well," Wissel said. "It was a confidence booster moving on to the latter part of the season."
COLBY WISSEL Elm Creek, Neb., senior
to not have to take the lead at the beginning of the race. He moved to the front after 800 meters and stayed in front of the pack for the remainder of the race. Wissel ran the last 800 meters in 1:58.
It's the second
time this season Wissel has run the one-mile race. He took second at the Kansas vs. Missouri Dual back in January with a time of 4:12.27.
"I'm in much better shape than I was competing against Mizzou." Wissel said. "I was more worried about putting in a good hard effort and I thought I wouldn't get it if I didn't take the lead."
Wissel said the talented field as well as his own cheering section of family and friends, helped push him.
"The crowd's enthusiasm helps during a race," he said. "It was nice to do it in front of friends and my family."
With the team's struggles this weekend, Wissel said he hoped the team would see his performance as an example of working hard to where you're happy with your performance.
Next up for the senior is taking a shot at breaking the school record in the 5,000-meter run in either Ames, Iowa at the Iowa State Classic or in Fayetteville, Ark., at the Tyson Invitational.
Wissel said that he was trying to qualify for indoor nationals for his final indoor season in either the one-mile, the 3,000- or 5,000-meter runs but that he only had two more chances before competing at conference.
"It's hard to tell how my rille time will play out," he said. "I don't have many opportunities left, so I need to take advantage of them."
— Edited by Brandy Entsminger
HUSKER INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Women Men
Pole vault One-mile special
11. McKenzie Wills 3.45 meters
11. Abby Jones 3.45 meters
One-mile
3,000 meters
8. Donny Wasinge 4:19.74
7. Rebeka Stowe 10:30.33
12. Kaleb Humphreys 4:22.95
13. Riley Wetenberger 10:44.20
600-yards
Distance medley relay
10. Corey Mims 1:15.29
3. Kansas 12:25.23
1,000 meters
7. Clay Schneider 2:32.49
Heptathlon
8. Jacob Breth 4,537 points
Women
NEW BALANCE COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL RESULTS
3,000 meters
3. Amanda Miller 9:53.31
9. Kara Windisch 10:05.60
500-meters
7. Stephanie Horton 14.47 meters
Men
13. Charity Stowers 1:15.93
Shot put
4x400 relay
9. Kansas 3:49.54
Weight Throw
6. Zlata Tarasova 17.58 meters
10. Kansas 3:20.53
10. Kansas 3:20.53
4X400 relay
500-meters
18.Jarrell Rollins 1:05.62
21. Keron Toussaint 1:05.85
Triple jump
Pole vault
3. Corey Fuller 15.12 meters
11. Bret Imgrund
13. Patrick McGowan
One-mile
2. Jordan Scott 5.30 meters
15. Kirk Cooper 4.90 meters
4:15.86
4:15.90
Ball fight
Venezuela's Rafael Acosta, left, fights for the ball with Uruguay's Matias Aquiregary during an under-20 South American soccer championship game in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, Sunday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TENNIS
Team splits matches in Illinois over the weekend
Players bounce back to beat Illinois-Chicago after defeat
BY JUSTIN HILLEY jhilley@kansan.com
Kansas' tennis team lost to Illinois, 7-0, on Friday, but bounced back to defeat Illinois-Chicago, 4-3, on Saturday at a meet in Champaign, Ill.
The squad is now 4-1 overall for the season.
In a match that was closer than the score would indicate, the Jayhawks took the 36th ranked Fighting Illini to the edge as the doubles tandems of senior Edina Horvath and junior Kuni Dorn, as well as
coming into another team's home facility and playing, but I felt like we put it out there."
During singles play, Illinois' Megan Fudge (6-2, 6-0) defeated Horvath, and Chelcie Abajan (6-3, 6-3) put away Svistun shortly thereafter. Freshmen Erin Wilbert and Morozova, as well as sophomore Maria Martinez,
"It's hard coming into another team's home facility and playing, but I felt like we put it out there."
AMY HALL-HOLT
Coach
"Illinois is a great team," coach Amy Hall-Holt said. "We came out and we competed, and we played hard — it just didn't fall our way. There were some tough three-set matches. It's hard
senior Yuliana "Julie" Svistun and freshman Kate Morozova, narrowly lost, resulting in an early Kansas loss.
could not finish what they started after winning their first sets, eventually succumbing to a calm, yet powerful, Illinois team in three sets.
Afterward, Hall- Holt said the girls were disappointed with the loss, but
not discouraged. She added that these types of matches would get them ready for the Big 12 matches in March.
Saturday's match play started off on an unsteady note with the Jayhawks once again losing the crucial doubles point. The duo of Svistun/Morozova was the only KU doubles team to earn a victory. The two are now 4-1 for the season, a team best.
"Maybe the girls took UIC a little lightly in doubles, but UIC is a good team. And I feel that Julie and Kate, who won at No. 2 doubles, are playing wonderful," Hall-Holt said.
Wilbert (6-0, 6-2), Martinez (6-0, 6-1), and Morozova (6-4, 6-0), who played at the No.1 position, revealed no remnants of the previous day's difficulties as they each triumphed over UIC's Ulrikke von Ubisch, Ilinca Critescu and Amy Jellish, respectively.
Dorn and Horvath struggled on Saturday, losing their singles matches. Svistun, however, swiftly achieved her fourth singles victory of the season by defeating UIC's Jenna Reisch. The victory gave the Jayhawks their fourth point for the day and a dual match comeback win for the weekend.
Svistun and Morozova continue to perform to their potential.
Distinguished Teaching Award nominations are now being accepted in the Office of the Provost.
Submit only the names of individuals who are being nominated for one of these three awards. Later, information will be sought in support of the nomination and will focus on the quality of the intellectual content of the nominees' teaching, innovation and quality of teaching practices, depth and breadth of student understanding, reflective consideration and development, and the nominees' dedication to students and the profession.
Funds are provided by the Ned Fleming Trust, by the late Byron T. Shutz, and by the 25-year alumni class. The Fleming and Shutz awards are designated for full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members. The Silver Anniversary Award, funded by the 25-year alumni class, is intended for individuals in the tenure-track who have not yet been considered for tenure.
Any student, student organization, alumnus, colleague, department, or school committee may nominate faculty. Previous recipients are not eligible to receive the awards. The nomination process will proceed in stages and will involve input from students, faculty colleagues, and the nominees themselves.
"Kate went three sets with Illinois' number one player and had every chance of pulling that one out. She was a freshman competing against a ranked singles player in the NCAA. She put it all out there," Hall-Holt said. "I just see that Kate's getting more and more comfortable with her game. And Julie won 6-0, 6-1 in singles, and I think there is a lot of confidence that they're playing with."
Please submit names of nominees to Susann Richardson, (srichardson@ku.edu), Office of the Provost, no later than 5 p.m., Friday, February 13, 2009.
Your University, Your History kuhistory.com
Edited by Brandy Entsminger
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