Two trackwomen qualify for NCAAs

While most State College residents were enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures this past weekend, the women's track team was headed south to an even warmer climate.

The Raleigh Relays, held at N.C. State last weekend, marked the opening of the outdoor track season and saw two runners qualify for the NCAA national meet in the 3,000-meter run.

Senior Donna Fidler qualified with a time of 34:55.16, and sophomore Teresa Hohnka finished with a time of 35:33.24 to also qualify for nationals.

In addition to the two national qualifiers, four other athletes set lifetime best marks at the meet.

Junior Cara Madzy set her personal best in the 3,000-meter at 37:22.00, and senior Joetta Dweh tied her personal best at 4:45.12 in the 1,500-meter.

Freshman Stacey Suda set her best time at 4:52.10 in the 1,500-meter run. Junior Julie Schaadt hurled the discus a lifetime best 142-7, finishing eighth overall.

Coach Teri Jordan said the meet was a good one for the entire team.

"I think our team competed very well, especially on the opening day," she said. "The second day it was pretty windy and that kind of affected some of our performers. I think we worked hard and got some good things done."

Members of the team shared her enthusiasm.

"It was nice to get down there in the hot weather and get out of the cold," sophomore Mary Jo Faust said, who neared her personal mark with 137-7 in the discus. "We haven't had much of a chance to practice outdoors, so it was a little hard."

Jordan expects to see a marked improvement over the indoor season, in which they finished fifth in the Big Ten.

"I'd like to see us finish in the top three or four," she said. "Preferably in the top three. I think that's a realistic goal."

She said that injuries to key athletes Laila Brock and Kim Hicks may very well prevent the team from capturing the Big Ten title.

Team captain Erin St. John agrees.

"I don't know if we could win the Big Ten yet," she said. "We're a very young team. The injuries to Kim and Laila hurt. Hopefully Laila can come back later in the season, but I guess we can't dwell on what we don't have and work with what we do and do the best we can."