Ohmes, Gillespie Earn All-America Status

 

 

5.25.07

 

(For complete results click here)

 

Fresno, Calif. - As Friday came to a close at the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships it became clear that their really is no substitute for experience.  Unfortunately for most of the Mountaineers, experience is all they will bring home from Fresno as no Mounties made it to Saturday's finals.

 

Back in March, Lucas Ohmes and Kasie Gillespie were they only two Mountie tracksters to qualify for the NAIA National Indoor Meet in Johnson City, Tennessee.  Both, performed well but missed out on national recognition after struggling in a particular event. 

 

Lucas was sitting in 6th place in the Pentathlon after day one of the Indoor meet before a no height in the Pole Vault dropped him all the way to 13th.  Today, he used that experience to propel himself to an All-America finish.

 

Just two months later Ohmes needed a strong performance in the Vaultt to get into one of the top six All-America spots.  Not only did Lucas clear the opening height, he won the event and finished 5th in the country.

 

Fellow Pentathlete Chris Hoppie may have had a chance to win it all in his first National Meet but ironically, a no height in the Pole Vault ruined his chances.

 

Competing in the Heptahlon, Gillespie struggled in the 800 at the National Indoor meet, running a 3:36.36.  Today, also needing a favorable finish to get into that top six she ran a 3:26.06 and finished as the 6th best Heptathlete in the country, earning All-America Status.

 

Chris Hoppie, Matt Lane, Adam Goulet, Adam Miller, Grace Deboodt, Danielle Murphy, Danielle Reis, Chelsee Harmon, Kayla Weissert and Marcella Bosch should all have a chance to use the experienced gained in Fresno as none of them are seniors.

 

Lane just missed a spot in the finals of the 400 meter dash breaking a school record (48.46) in the Semis.

 

 

 

 

 

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