AU News
Sat, Mar 20, 2010 - [Women's Track and Field]
Freshman Sarah Wenzel won the long jump with a school record leap of 17'
Freshman Sarah Wenzel won the long jump with a school record leap of 17'
Kim Fabry (left) and Laura Minertz get off a quick start in the 200-meter dash
Kim Fabry (left) and Laura Minertz get off a quick start in the 200-meter dash

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - After having the meet moved up one day earlier due to the threat of poor weather, the Ashford University women's track and field team hit the track for the first time outdoors on Friday night and set five new outdoor school records at the Augustana Early Spring Opener.

"For the most part, the women made a seamless transition into the outdoor season," AU Head Coach Chris Adams said. "I'm just glad we were able to get the meet in before the snow hit."

After winning the event at the MCC Indoor Championships in February, sophomore Laura Minertz of Sterling, Ill., cruised to first place in the 200-meter dash with a new school record time of 26.31. Earlier in the meet, she placed second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.83. 

Senior Kim Fabry of Oconto Falls, Wis., joined Minertz in each event and had a strong showing by placing fourth in the 100 (13.76) and sixth in the 200 (28.32).

After placing seventh in the 100-meter dash, Clinton product Sarah Wenzel placed well ahead of the field in the long jump, leaping to a first place distance of 17 feet. Wenzel's winning distance is the longest outdoor jump in school history and was a full foot ahead of the second place finisher.

Nkemdilim Okwumabua of Rockford, Ill., took second place in a hard-fought 800-meter run with a time of 2:22.78, only .08 from the winning time but broke the outdoor school record for the event. In the 1,500 meter run, Ashley Murray of Mason City, Iowa placed 10th with a time of 5:52 and placed eighth in the 800 as well.

Competing in her hometown of Rock Island, Ill., Erika Jakobsen rounded out the distance runners by placing fifth in the 3,000-meter run in a time of 12:15.91.

The women throwers had a nice showing at the season opener as well. Ashley Voeltz of Fulton, Ill., placed second in the shot put with a school record toss of 39'5" and Brooke Funk of Le Claire took seventh. The two competed in the hammer throw as well with Voeltz placing seventh and Funk ninth.

The women closed the meet in style underneath the Augustana lights with the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team comprised of Okwumabua, Minertz, Fabry and Wenzel set a new outdoor school record and placed second in the field with a time of 4:23.09.