Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Track Ends Season, Heads To NCAAs
5/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 20, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University women's track team competed in the final meet of the regular season as it took third at the Mid-American Conference track championships last weekend in Ypsilanti. The Chippewas have five athletes that have provisionally qualified to participate at the NCAA track championships in Baton Rouge, La. It will take place from June 5-8.
THE COACHING STAFF -- The CMU women's track and field program is led by head coach Kathleen Raske and assistant coaches Karen Lutzke and Larry Levine. Raske led the Chippewas to a MAC indoor title in 2002 and was named MAC and regional "Coach of the Year." Lutzke coached the 2000 cross country squad to a MAC title en route to MAC "Coach of the Year" honors while Levine works with and directs the strength and conditioning program for the throwers.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP -- The Central Michigan University women's track capped its season with a third-place finish at the Mid-American Conference track championships in Ypsilanti last weekend.
Kent State grabbed the outdoor title with 133 points. Eastern Michigan was second (128) followed by Central Michigan (112), Ball State (93), Western Michigan (67), Toledo (58), Akron (55.5), Buffalo (47), Miami (45), Bowling Green (41.5), Ohio (37) and Marshall (2).
CMU had numerous outstanding performances on the weekend. Suzy Bozin (Washington/Sr.) was the high jump champion (5-9 3/4) followed by fellow Chippewa Maria Derezinski (Muskegon/Sr.) in second (5-8). Derezinski took first in the heptathlon and improved her NCAA provisional-qualifying mark with 5268 points. She also turned in a third-place leap in the long jump (19-4). Melissa Brousseau (Alpena/Sr.) turned in an NCAA provisional-qualifying mark and a first-place effort in the shot put ( 49-5). Kari Karhoff (Durand/Sr.) was third in the 400m (54.96) and provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in the 400m hurdles while taking second (59.11). Also finishing second was the 400m relay team (46.47).
Following are the track team members who scored by finishing in the top eight: Amanda Storck (Twin Lake/So.) was third in the pole vault (12-10 1/4); Natasha Reynolds (Warren/So.) took fourth in the javelin, 133-4; Kristen Podein (Belmont/So.) was fifth in the 1500m, 4:34.85, and sixth in the 800m, 2:13.36; Fallon Bailey (Fremont, Ohio/Fr.) finished fifth in the 100m, 11.94; Brook Creed (Walkerville/Jr.) was sixth in both the 1500m, 4:35.22, and in the 5000m, 17:20.29; Jenni Roberts (Sycamore, Ill./Fr.) was sixth in the 200m, 24.63; In the 800m, Erin Miner (Webster, N.Y./Sr.) was seventh, 2:14.40; Karen LeRoy's (Oxford/Fr.) took seventh place in the steeplechase (11:08.58); and Abby Jaroscak (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Sr.) grabbed eighth in the 100m, 14.45.
IT WAS A GOOD MEET - "We went into the meet with some injuries to some of our key athletes," commented head coach Kathleen Raske. "Athletes we were counting on to score couldn't compete and we needed to get those points elsewhere. But, it was an exciting meet. We gave it out best shot. Our team had a good meet, not a great meet, and we needed a great meet. Hats off to Kent State. It had a great meet."
HATE TO SEE IT END - "It was an incredible year," said Raske. "This was a special group of young ladies. It was a landmark year for us. We made history, we had great performances, great attitudes and great chemistry. It's a year I will never forget. Having won the indoor title and being in the hunt for the outdoor made it a pleasure to coach this team."
ALL-MAC - The Chippewas landed eight athletes on the All-Mid-American Conference team. First-place showings garner first-team honors while second-place finishes garner second-team distinctions. Suzy Bozin (high jump), Maria Derezinski (heptathlon) and Melissa Brousseau (shot put) were all first-teamers. Second-team laurels went to Kari Karhoff (400m) and to the 400m relay team of Kelli Kirchofer (Swartz Creek/Jr.), Fallon Bailey, Jenni Roberts and Kia Johnson (East Amherst, N.Y./Jr.).
BROKEN RECORDS - Amanda Storck (pole vault), Maria Derezinski (heptathlon), Karen LeRoy (steeplechase) and Melissa Brousseau (shot put) all set new school marks at the MAC championships last weekend.
WHO'S ON THE LIST --The Central Michigan women's track team has five athletes on the provisional-qualifier list for the NCAA championships. Kari Karhoff is a provisional qualifier in the 400m hurdles, Maria Derezinski in the heptathlon, Suzy Bozin in the high jump, Melissa Brousseau in the shot put and Amanda Stork in the pole vault.
