2008 Woodie Awards
Indoor track sends five to NCAA Division II Nationals
By Jared Ursta
Rocket Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
Usually the SRU Indoor Track team is gearing up for the outdoor season during this time of year. But this time around, five Rock women are gearing up to compete against the toughest competition in the Division II National Indoor Championships in Boston this weekend.
The Rock will send its 4x400 relay team and one other team member.
Senior Andi Rose, sophomore Lacy Cochran, senior Melissa Sopher and freshman Jessica Sakin make up the 4x400 relay team. Rose will also compete in a single event, the 60-meter hurdles, and sophomore Jen Hansen will also compete. Hansen will compete in the pole vault event.
"Yeah, the girls are excited," coach John Papa said. "They are a little nervous, but excited. They are excited to get away, and they will be treated well. They will have banquets and get to be with the other athletes."
Each of the girls is happy that they were able to qualify for nationals, but for Sopher, this meet means a little more to her.
"Making it to nationals was awesome," Sopher said. "It is my last indoor season ever, and it was great to know that I have one last meet, let alone it being the biggest meet of the season."
Sopher added that despite the national event, her mental approach will not change that much while they are on the trip.
"The routine in Boston will probably be like every day," Sopher said. "I'm weird and have routine stuff I do before a meet. I'm sure that will happen, but our hotel has a mall in it, and with four other girls going, I'm sure you will be finding us there."
Sakin had a similar opinion on when she found out that she was going to nationals.
"When we found out that we made it to nationals, I was so excited," Sakin said. "As a freshman, that's something that I definitely did not expect, and it's going to be such a good experience."
All of the girls got the number eight seed for the national tournament, which is also All-American status.
Sakin knows that to have a chance to win the National Championship, she and the rest of the team have a lot to do to achieve that goal.
The Rock will send its 4x400 relay team and one other team member.
Senior Andi Rose, sophomore Lacy Cochran, senior Melissa Sopher and freshman Jessica Sakin make up the 4x400 relay team. Rose will also compete in a single event, the 60-meter hurdles, and sophomore Jen Hansen will also compete. Hansen will compete in the pole vault event.
"Yeah, the girls are excited," coach John Papa said. "They are a little nervous, but excited. They are excited to get away, and they will be treated well. They will have banquets and get to be with the other athletes."
Each of the girls is happy that they were able to qualify for nationals, but for Sopher, this meet means a little more to her.
"Making it to nationals was awesome," Sopher said. "It is my last indoor season ever, and it was great to know that I have one last meet, let alone it being the biggest meet of the season."
Sopher added that despite the national event, her mental approach will not change that much while they are on the trip.
"The routine in Boston will probably be like every day," Sopher said. "I'm weird and have routine stuff I do before a meet. I'm sure that will happen, but our hotel has a mall in it, and with four other girls going, I'm sure you will be finding us there."
Sakin had a similar opinion on when she found out that she was going to nationals.
"When we found out that we made it to nationals, I was so excited," Sakin said. "As a freshman, that's something that I definitely did not expect, and it's going to be such a good experience."
All of the girls got the number eight seed for the national tournament, which is also All-American status.
Sakin knows that to have a chance to win the National Championship, she and the rest of the team have a lot to do to achieve that goal.
Be the first to comment on this story