Dec. 21, 2009

Complete Results

Allendale, Mich. - Lewis University juniors Kathryn Hague (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Assisi), Samantha Linck (Kohler, Wis./Kohler) and senior Scott Barnas (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Laurence/Moraine Valley C.C.) opened the 2009-10 track and field campaign in fine fashion as each earned NCAA Provisional Qualifying marks at the GVSU Holiday Open on Friday (Dec. 18) afternoon.

Hague placed second overall in the 5,000-meter run with a career-best time of 17:14.79, while Linck won the high jump in the pentathlon with a leap of 5'6". Barnas won the shot put with a career-best heave of 56'11 ¼".

"We were trying to see how many provisional marks we could get at the meet, and there were other good performances," Lewis head track and field coach Dana Schwarting said. "Those marks, however, were certainly the high points of the weekend. I'm very excited about our team after this meet."

Joining Barnas in the winner's circle on the men's side was junior sprinter Chris Leibrand (Parkville, Mo./Park South). Leibrand won the 400-meter dash with a career-best time of 48.84.

Leibrand was also a member of the third-place 4x400 relay (3:24.84), along with freshman Alex Gasick (Woodridge, Ill./Benet Academy), senior Aaron Jett (Chicago, Ill./Thornridge/Embry-Riddle) and senior Robert Robinson (Hillside, Ill./Trinity/Southern Illinois). 2009 Indoor All-American James Knaperek (Hometown, Ill./St. Laurence) claimed third-place honors in the 60-meter hurdles with a mark of 8.37.

Senior Pat Reaney (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) won the pentathlon high jump with a mark of 6'0 ¾", while chipping in a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.24) and third-place marks in the 60-meter hurdles (9.46), long jump (20'7 ¾") and shot put (36'0 ¼").

On the women's side, junior Danielle Thompson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) took home first-place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:30.41, while sophomore Julie Jarrett (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) was victorious in the 1-mile run (5:17.58).

2009 All-American Ashley Butler (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) claimed top honors in the long jump with a leap of 17'1 ¼", while junior Kelsey Boland (Brimfield, Ill./Elmwood) was second in the triple jump (34'1 ½").

In the pentathlon, senior Christine Kustra (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) won the 60-meter hurdles (9.46) and long jump (16'4 ¼"), while adding a second-place finish in the shot put (34'6 ¼"). Sophomore Sarah Sielisch (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) was third in the 800-meter run (2:43.00) and high jump (5'1 ¼") in the pentathlon.

Lewis returns to action on January 16th, as the Flyers host the Dick Pond Open.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 9th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

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