IUP Opens Outdoor Track and Field Season with Four National Qualifying Efforts

Raleigh Relays 10,000 Results
Wake Forest Open Results

Four IUP athletes earned provisional qualifications for the NCAA Division II championships in the opening events of the outdoor track and field season.

The quartet was highlighted by Nicole Blaesser in the 10,000 at the Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State.  Blaesser was third a field of 23 runners, and the top Division II finisher, with a time of 36:22.

That mark was 14 seconds faster than her time from a year ago when she made the cut for nationals. 

At the Wake Forest Open, IUP took the first two positions in the javelin, with Rob Conrad and Mike Rairigh both coming close to the automatic qualifying standard.

Conrad won the javelin competition with a throw of 214 feet, nine inches, followed by Rairigh at 212'10".  They will likely be 1-2 in the nation in the first outdoor rankings this week. 

Rairigh is a reigning All-America in the javelin, finishing sixth at nationals a year ago.

Jermaine Clayton won the men's long jump at Wake Forest with a provisional qualifying distance of 23'6".  He is seeking a spot at the outdoor nationals after meriting a berth at the indoor meet in the same event.

Lahnor Ridley won the women's long jump at 17'8" and Gretchen Colwell was second in the shot put with a throw of 42'2".

IUP athletes will compete on Saturday at both the Demon Deacon Open and the Susquehanna Invitational in Selinsgrove.