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Warzecha A Third-Team Academic All-American
Mustangs Place Two On Academic All-District First-Team
Mustangs Announce Men's Recruits
Nash Announces Women's Recruits
Twelve Mustangs Named NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Warzecha Earns All-America Honors For Third Time
Mustangs Announce MVP Award Winners
Keitges Is GPAC 5000-Meters Champion
Mustangs Break School Mark In Distance Medley
Warzecha Named GPAC Athlete Of The Week
Mustangs Announce Four Recruits
Mustangs Compete At NAIA Indoor National Championships
Nash Named GPAC Women's Indoor Co-Coach Of The Year
Mustangs Break Three Records At GPAC Indoor Championships
Nelson Is GPAC Runner Of The Week
 Vanessa Warzecha, a 2009 Morningside College graduate from Aloha, Ore., has been named to the third-team of the 2009 ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Team as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Warzecha, who specialized in the javelin, graduated from Morningside this spring with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average with a major in biology.
Warzecha placed sixth in the javelin with a distance of 142-9 at this year’s NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to earn NAIA All-America honors in the event for the third time in her career. She also earned All-America honors with a fifth place finish as a freshman and as the national runner-up as a sophomore. Warzecha, a three-time GPAC champion, is the Morningside record holder with a distance of 148-10.
Student-athletes must be of at least sophomore athletic and academic status, be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials, and have a minimum GPA of 3.30 in order to be eligible for ESPN The Magazine Academic honors.
Click here for the complete 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
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Erin Keitges |
Vanessa Warzecha |
Erin Keitges and Vanessa Warzecha been named to the first team of the 2009 ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District VII Women’s Track & Field Team as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Keitges, a junior distance runner from Jackson, Neb., has a 3.95 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with a major in elementary education.
Warzecha, a javelin thrower from Aloha, Ore., graduated from Morningside this spring with a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA with a major in biology.
Keitges was the 5000-meters champion at this year’s Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Outdoor Championships with a time of 18:07.13. She qualified for the 2009 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in both the 5000-meters and the 3000-meter steeplechase and was a NAIA national qualifier in the 3000-meters during the indoor season. Keitges is the Morningside indoor record holder with times of 10:20.70 in the 3000-meters and 18:00.82 in the 5000-meters and the Mustangs’ outdoor record holder with times of 10:33.16 in the 3000-meters and 17:51.32 in the 5000-meters. She is a three-time NAIA national qualifier in cross country.
Warzecha placed sixth in the javelin with a distance of 142-9 at this year’s NAIA Outdoor Championships to earn NAIA All-America honors in the event for the third time in her career. She was also an All-American with a fifth place finish as a freshman and as the national runner-up as a sophomore. Warzecha, a three-time GPAC champion, is the Morningside record holder with a distance of 148-10.
Keitges and Warzecha will both advance to the national ballot for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team.
Student-athletes must be of at least sophomore athletic and academic status, be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials, and have a minimum GPA of 3.30 in order to be eligible for ESPN The Magazine Academic honors.
Morningside College men’s track & field and cross country head coach Dave Nash has announced the names of 12 high school recruits who will join the Mustangs this fall.
The headliner is Andy Simons of Larchwood, Iowa, who was a two-time Class 1A state champion in the shot put during his prep career at West Lyon High School. Simons triumphed in the shot put at this year’s Iowa state meet with a distance of 54-2 and reigned at the state meet as a junior with a heave of 53-1 1/2. Simons also qualified for the state meet in the discus during his junior campaign.
The other recruits are:
Todd Carnes, a sprinter from Malcom, Iowa, who is a graduate of Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom (B-G-M) High School. Carnes helped B-G-M qualify for the Class 1A state meet in the 800-meter relay this past season.
Taylor Chapman, a cross country runner from Spencer, Iowa, who is a graduate of Spencer High School. Chapman finished 15th in the individual standings at the Class 3A cross country state meet with a time of 16:23 this past season. As a junior he finished 14th at the Class 3A state meet with a time of 16:33.
Daniel Cunningham, a middle distance and cross country runner from Durant, Iowa, who is a graduate of Durant High School. Cunningham helped lead Durant to a ninth place finish in the team standings at this past season’s Class 1A cross country state meet. He helped lead Durant to an eighth place finish at the 1A state meet as a junior.
Cody Danko, a middle distance runner from Hartley, Iowa, who is a graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. Danko was a Class 2A state qualifier in the 800-meters as a junior and sophomore.
Joel Dorsett, a cross country runner from Sioux City who is a graduate of Sioux City North High School. Dorsett was the individual runner-up at this past season’s Missouri River Activities Conference (MRAC) cross country meet with a time of 16:37.78.
Tyler Heitman, a jumper-sprinter from South Sioux City, Neb., who is a graduate of South Sioux City High School. Heitman placed sixth in this year’s Nebraska Class A state meet with distances of 21-4 in the long jump and 45-4 1/2 in the triple jump. He also ran the leadoff leg for a Cardinal 400-meter relay team that finished ninth at the state meet with a time of 43.38 seconds. Heitman was a state qualifier in the long jump and triple jump as a junior and qualified for state in the triple jump as a sophomore.
Tony Hughes, a middle distance and cross country runner from Durant, Iowa, who is a graduate of Durant High School. Hughes helped lead Durant to a ninth place finish at the Class 1A cross country state meet this past season and to an eighth place finish at the 1A state meet as a junior.
Michael Huseman, a sprinter from Alta, Iowa, who is a graduate of Alta High School. Huseman was the Class 1A 100-meter runner-up at this year’s Iowa state meet with a time of 11.23 seconds and was also a state qualifier in the 200-meters. As a junior, he anchored Alta to a state championship in the Class 1A 800-meter relay and to a second place finish in the Class 1A 400-meter relay. He also placed third in the 100-meters with a time of 11.47 seconds and seventh in the 200-meters with a time of 23.25 seconds at the Class 1A state meet during his junior campaign. Huseman placed fifth in the 100-meters with a time of 11.77 seconds and anchored Alta to a state championship in the 800-meter relay and to a second place finish in the 400-meter relay at the Class 1A state meet as a sophomore.
Thomas Klunker, a sprinter from Lawton, Iowa. Klunker is a graduate of Lawton-Bronson High School.
Jason Mammen, a sprinter-hurdler from Western, Neb., who is a graduate of Wilber-Castonia High School. Mammen was Nebraska’s Class C 300-meter hurdles runner-up this past season with a time of 40.45 seconds at the state meet. He also placed sixth in the Class C 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.54 seconds and was a state qualifier in the 400-meters and the 1600-meter relay. Mammen was a state qualifier in the 400-meters as a junior.
Adam Sullivan, a jumper-sprinter from Peosta, Iowa. Sullivan is a graduate of Epworth, Western Dubuque High School.
Morningside College track & field and cross country head coach Dave Nash has announced the names of 17 high school recruits who will join the Mustangs this fall.
The recruits are:
Christine Becker, a middle distance and cross country runner from Storm Lake, Iowa, who is a graduate of Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School. Becker ran the anchor leg for a St. Mary’s distance medley relay team that qualified for this year’s Class 1A state meet. She qualified for the Class 1A state meet in the 800-meters and the 1500-meters as a junior and was a Class 1A state qualifier in the 800-meters as a freshman.
Emily Beckfield, a cross country runner from New Brighton, Minn. Beckfield is a graduate of Irondale Senior High School.
Lydia Bienlien, a long jumper-sprinter from Glenwood, Iowa, who competed for Glenwood High School. Bienlien finished 11th in the 400-meters at this year’s Class 3A state meet with a time of 1:01.54 and was a state qualifier in the 400-meter, 1600-meter, and sprint medley relays. She was a Class 3A state qualifier in the 200-meters, 400-meters, and long jump as a junior.
Kaysi Byers, a cross country runner from Correctionville, Iowa, who is a graduate of River Valley High School. Byers was a Class 1A state qualifier as a senior, junior, and sophomore.
Cailee Conlon, a weight thrower from Sioux City. Conlon is a graduate of Sioux City West High School.
Kerie Ehlers, a cross country runner from West Point, Neb., who is a graduate of West Point High School. Ehlers was a Class C state qualifier as a senior and sophomore.
Breanna Mathes, a middle distance and cross country runner from Cherokee, Iowa, who is a graduate of Galva-Holstein High School. Mathes ran the second leg for a Galva-Holstein 3200-meter relay team that placed fifth at this year’s Iowa Class 1A state meet with a time of 10:00.50 and ran the third leg for a Galva-Holstein distance medley relay team that placed sixth at the state meet with a time of 4:21.980. She anchored Galva-Holstein to an eighth place finish in the Class 1A 3200-meter relay at last year’s state meet and was also a state qualifier in the 1600-meter relay. Mathes was a Class 1A state qualifier in the 800-meters and the 3200-meter and distance medley relays as a sophomore. Mathes helped lead Galva-Holstein to a ninth place finish in the Class 1A team standings at the state cross country meet as a senior and to an eighth place finish at the state meet as a junior.
Laura Maynard, a weight thrower from Rodney, Iowa, who is a graduate of Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto High School. Maynard was a Class 2A state qualifier in the shot put as both a senior and junior.
Molly Motsinger, a sprinter-pole vaulter from Gretna, Neb., who is a graduate of Gretna High School. Motsinger ran the second leg for a Gretna 1600-meter relay team that won a district championship with a time of 4:14.0 to quality for this year’s Nebraska Class B state meet.
Elizabeth Norton, a pole vaulter from Yuma, Ariz., who is a graduate of Yuma Catholic High School. Norton cleared 6-5 to finish fourth at this year’s Class 2A Region meet.
Diana Quinonez, a middle distance runner from Paullina, Iowa. Quinonez is a graduate of South O’Brien High School.
McKenzie Reece, a middle distance and cross country runner from Forest City, Iowa, who is a graduate of Forest City High School. Reece ran the leadoff leg for Forest City relay teams that qualified for this year’s state meet in the Class 3A 1600-meter and 3200-meter events. She was a Class 3A 800-meters state qualifier as a junior and sophomore.
Briana Schaeuble, a high jumper from Kingsley, Iowa, who is a graduate of Kingsley-Pierson High School. Schaeuble was this year’s Iowa Class 1A high jump runner-up with a height of 5-3. She placed seventh at the Class 1A state meet as a junior when she cleared 5-2 and was Iowa’s Class 1A state champion as a sophomore with a height of 5-3. Schaeuble was a Class 1A state qualifier as a freshman.
Breanna Schwartz, a hurdler from Sioux City. Schwartz is a graduate of Sioux City East High School.
Molly Sippel, a sprinter from Schaller, Iowa, who is a graduate of Schaller-Crestland High School. Sippel was a Class 1A state qualifier in the 200-meters this year and ran the anchor leg for Schaller-Crestland’s 400-meter, 800-meter, and sprint medley relay teams that qualified for the state meet. As a junior, she placed sixth in the Class 1A state meet in the 100-meters with a time of 13.18 seconds and anchored Schaller-Crestland to a third place finish in the 400-meter relay and a sixth place finish in the sprint medley relay. She was also a state qualifier in the 800-meter relay. Sippel also placed sixth in the 100-meters at the Class 1A state meet as a sophomore with a time of 13.06 seconds. She anchored Schaller-Crestland to a sixth place finish in the sprint medley relay at the state meet as a sophomore and also qualified for state in the 200-meters and the 400-meter relay. As a freshman, Sippel anchored Schaller-Crestland to a fifth place finish in the 400-meter relay at the Class 1A state meet and was also a state qualifier in the 100-meters, 200-meters, and the 800-meter relay.
Kelci Teut, a discus thrower from Hinton, Iowa, who is a graduate of Hinton High School. Teut was a Class 1A state qualifier in the discus as a junior.
Savannah Wakeley, a high jumper from Wausa, Neb., who is a graduate of Wausa High School. Wakeley was this year’s Nebraska Class D state runner-up with a height of 5-3 at the state meet. She placed fifth at the Class D state meet as a junior with a height of 5-3 and was a Class D state qualifier as a freshman.
 Twelve members from Morningside College’s men’s and women’s track & field teams have been named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
The Mustangs’ men’s track & field Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes are:
Andrew Edison, a senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who has a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with a major in computer science.
Beau Kildow, a junior from Omaha, Neb., who has a 4.00 cumulative GPA with majors in chemistry and biology.
Christopher Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., who has a 3.65 cumulative GPA with a major in psychology counseling.
Josh Steinhoff, a senior from Smithland, Iowa, who has a 3.93 cumulative GPA with a major in elementary education.
Todd Wolf, a junior from Corning, Iowa, who has a 3.53 cumulative GPA with a major in business administration.
The Mustangs’ women’s track & field Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes are:
Heather Hoefs, a junior from Valentine, Neb., who has a 3.93 cumulative GPA with majors in business administration and psychology counseling.
Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb., who has a 3.95 cumulative GPA with a major in elementary education.
Brooke Pottorff, a senior from Corning, Iowa, who has a 3.72 cumulative GPA with a major in nursing.
Margo Stanforth, a junior from Platte, S.D., who has a 4.00 cumulative GPA with majors in mathematics and business administration.
Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb., who has a 3.94 cumulative GPA with a major in art teaching.
Vanessa Warzecha, a senior from Aloha, Ore., who has a 4.00 cumulative GPA with a major in biology.
RaeChael Zabokrtsky, a junior from Endicott, Neb., who has a 3.77 cumulative GPA with a major in biology.
Student-athletes must be of at least junior academic status and have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in order to be eligible for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Click here for the complete list of Daktronics-NAIA Men's Track & Field Scholar-Athletes.
Click here for the complete list of Daktronics-NAIA Women's Track & Field Scholar-Athletes.
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Vanessa Warzecha |
Vanessa Warzecha, a senior from Aloha, Ore., earned NAIA All-America honors with a sixth place finish in the women’s javelin during Thursday’s competition at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
Warzecha’s sixth place throw went a distance of 142-9 as she garnered NAIA All-America honors for the third time in her career. She was an All-American with a fifth place finish as a freshman and as the national runner-up as a sophomore with a school-record distance of 148-10.
The Mustangs’ Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb., finished 12th in the finals of the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:24.52. She had the ninth fastest qualifying time for the 14-runner final with a time of 11:11.38 in the prelims. Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa, also competed in the steeplechase prelims, but did not advance after a time of 11:35.55.
Morningside’s other athletes in Thursday’s competition were:
Andrew Edison, a senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who finished 17th in the men’s hammer throw with a distance of 165-2.
Christopher Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., and Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb., who did not advance past the preliminary heats in their events. Nordstrom had a time of 1:55.16 in the men’s 800-meters, while Torkelson had a time of 59.83 in the women’s 400-meters.
Click here for complete meet results.
Morningside College announced its Most Valuable Player award recipients for the indoor and outdoor seasons when the Mustangs held their track & field awards banquet on Sunday.
The Mustangs’ MVPs for the indoor season were Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb.; Amber Price, a junior from Shelby, Iowa; and Christopher Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn.
Torkelson, a sprinter-high jumper, was a NAIA national qualifier in the women’s 400-meters and also helped the Mustangs qualify for nationals in the 1600-meter relay during the indoor season. She set a school record in the 400-meters with a time of 58.27 seconds en route to a third place finish at the GPAC Indoor Championships.
Price, a weight thrower, was a NAIA national qualifier in the women’s weight throw during the indoor season. She placed second in the weight throw with a distance of 48-10 3/4 at the GPAC Indoor Championships.
Nordstrom, a middle distance runner, was a NAIA national qualifier in the men’s 800-meters during the indoor season. He had the Mustangs’ top individual finish in a men’s event at the GPAC Indoor Championships with a third place time of 1:54.39 in the 800-meters.
The Mustangs’ outdoor season MVPs were Brad South, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa; Andrew Edison, a senior from Council Bluffs; Vanessa Warzecha, a senior from Aloha, Ore.; and Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb.
South, a sprinter-javelin thrower, placed fourth in both the men’s 400-meters and the men’s javelin at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with a time of 48.98 seconds in the 400-meters and a distance of 176-7 in the javelin.
Edison, a weight thrower, has qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in the men’s hammer throw with a distance of 169-11 at the Sioux City Relays.
Warzecha has qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in the women’s javelin with a distance of 135-8 at the Dakota State University Invitational. She placed third in the javelin at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with a distance of 119-2.
Keitges, a distance runner, is a NAIA Outdoor Championships qualifier in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:03.60 at the Sioux City Relays. Keitges is also a national qualifier in the women’s 5000-meters after she won the event at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with a time of 18:07.13. She was the 3000-meter steeplechase runner-up at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with a time of 11:10.24. Keitges set a school record in the women’s 3000-meters with a time of 10:33.16 at this year’s Dakota State Invitational.
Jordan Balfour, a junior weight thrower from Corning, Iowa, received the Mustangs’ Most Improved award. Balfour was a multiple place winner for the Mustangs at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with a fourth place distance of 134-8 in the women’s discus and an eighth place distance of 145-9 in the women’s hammer throw.
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Erin Keitges |
Curtis Rife |
Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb., was the women’s 5000-meters champion at the 2009 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships held Saturday in Yankton, S.D.
Keitges won the event with a time of 18:07.13 for the Mustangs’ top individual performance at the GPAC Championships.
Aside from her victory in the 5000-meters, Keitges was also the runner-up in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:10.24.
The Mustangs had multiple place winners in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase and the 5000-meters. Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa, was the third place finisher in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:38.41 and Lydia Ford, a freshman from Vermillion, S.D., was the eighth place finisher in the 5000-meters with a time of 19:11.63.
The high jump was the best event for the Morningside men, where the Mustangs had three of the top five finishers. Curtis Rife, a freshman from Mondamin, Iowa, and Ryan Gass, a sophomore from Valentine, Neb., each cleared 6-7 to finish second and third, respectively. Kyle Groon, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, placed fifth with a height of 6-3 1/4.
Monte Larsen, a freshman from Neola, Iowa, also gave the Mustangs a second place finish with a time of 54.70 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.
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Deidre Hinkeldey |
Anne Torkelson |
The Morningside women received a school-record tying performance from Deidre Hinkeldey, a freshman from Alta, Iowa, who placed second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.50 to tie a Morningside standard previously set by Sue Cronin in 1993. Hinkeldey also placed seventh in the 200-meters with a time of 26.32 seconds.
Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb., also gave the Mustangs a school record breaking performance with a time of 57.74 seconds en route to a third place finish in the women’s 400-meters to break the former Morningside standard of 57.75 seconds by Theresa Lux in 1992. Torkelson also gave the Mustangs a fourth place performance in the high jump with a height of 5-3.
Jordan Balfour, a junior from Corning, Iowa, was also multiple place winner for the Mustang women. Balfour placed fourth in the discus with a distance of 134-8 and eighth in the hammer throw with a distance of 145-9.
Brad South, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was a multiple place winner for the Morningside men with a fourth place time of 48.98 seconds in the 400-meters and a fourth place distance of 176-7 in the javelin.
Christopher Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., also had a fourth place finish for the Morningside men with a time of 1:54.07 in the 800-meters.
The other individual event place winners for the Morningside women were Vanessa Warzecha, a senior from Aloha, Ore., with a third place distance of 119-2 in the javelin; Bailey Johnson, a sophomore from Milford, Iowa, with a fifth place time of 15.67 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles; Leah Nielsen, a freshman from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, with a sixth place time of 4:52.41 in the 1500-meters; Katie Sokolowski, a freshman from Wakonda, S.D., with an eighth place height of 5-1 in the high jump; and Margo Stanforth, a junior from Platte, S.D., with an eighth place time of 58.79 seconds in the 400-meters.
Morningside placed fourth in both the men’s and women’s 1600-meter relays. The Mustangs’ men’s 1600-meter relay team of Brian Sauter, a sophomore from Alta, Iowa; Nordstrom, Jeremiah Avise Rouse, a junior from Tama, Iowa; and Sean Howell, a junior from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; had a time of 3:20.94. The Mustangs’ women’s quartet of Torkelson, Sabrina Sieperda, a freshman from Rock Rapids, Iowa; Stanforth, and Sheri Howard, a senior from Estherville, Iowa; combined for a time of 3:59.06.
Amber Woodford, a freshman from Storm Lake, Iowa; Hinkeldey, Heather Husman, a freshman from Quimby, Iowa; and Howard combined to give Morningside a fifth place time of 49.36 seconds in the women’s 400-meter relay. Morningside also finished fifth in the women’s 3200-meter relay with a time of 9:45.58 from the quartet of Jessica Hudelson, a freshman from Elk Point, S.D.; Tessie Cook, a junior from Ames, Iowa; Sieperda, and Heather Hoefs, a sophomore from Valentine, Neb.
Eddy Graf, a junior from Logan, Iowa; Josh Steinhoff, a senior from Smithland, Iowa; Todd Wolf, a sophomore from Corning, Iowa; and Brian Gesink, a sophomore from Sioux Center, Iowa; combined to lead Morningside to a fifth place finish in the men’s 3200-meter relay with a time of 7:59.76.
Morningside finished fifth in the final women’s team standings with 84 points and sixth in the men’s team standings with 50 points.
Men's Results
Women's Results
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Dave Nash |
Morningside College broke its school record in the women’s distance medley relay during Friday morning’s action at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Mustangs’ quartet of Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb.; Heather Hoefs, a sophomore from Valentine, Neb.; Leah Nielsen, a freshman from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; and Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa; combined for a time of 12:21.57 to carve almost three seconds off the former Morningside standard of 12:24.46 in 1993.
Morningside finished 11th in the women’s college division of the event.
In addition to the school-record performance in the distance medley relay, Morningside head coach Dave Nash was the men's 800-meter run masters champion with a time of 2:00.72 for a three-second victory margin over runner-up Jeff Burris, who ran a 2:03.87.
 Vanessa Warzecha, a senior from Aloha, Ore., has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Warzecha won the women’s javelin at last Saturday’s Dakota State University Trojan Invitational with a winning distance of 135-8 to qualify for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships slated for May 21-23 in St. Louis, Mo. She had a victory margin of 25 feet, seven inches over her closest competitor.
Morningside head coach Dave Nash has announced the names of four high school recruits who will join the Mustangs next season.
The recruits are:
Grant Aden, a distance runner from Syracuse, Neb., who is a senior at Syracuse High School. Aden placed fifth in the boy’s 1600-meters with a time of 4:34.10 and seventh in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:57.59 at last year’s Nebraska Class B state meet.
Aden is also a cross country standout and was Nebraska’s Class C runner-up this past fall with a time of 16:50.1 to lead Syracuse to a fifth place finish in the team standings at the state meet. He finished third at the Class C state meet with a time of 16:58.70 as a junior and finished sixth at state with a time of 17:11.32 as a sophomore.
Nicole Seier, a sprinter-middle distance runner from Lincoln, Neb., who is a senior at Waverly High School. She finished 10th in the Class B girl’s 800-meters with a time of 2:21.24 at last year’s Nebraska state meet and was also a state qualifier in the 400-meters and 1600-meters.
As a sophomore, Seier placed sixth in the 800-meters with a time of 2:24.51 at the Class B state meet and ran the leadoff leg for a Waverly 3200-meter relay team that finished fifth at the state meet.
Seier also competed for Waverly’s cross country team and was a three-time state qualifier.
Tabitha Shepherd, a distance runner from Corning, Iowa, who is a senior at Corning High School. She was a Class 1A state qualifier in both the 1500-meters and 3000-meters and ran for Corning’s state qualifying 3200-meter relay and distance medley relay teams last season.
Shepherd was a Class 1A state qualifier in the 1500-meters, 3000-meters, and the distance medley relay as a sophomore. Her best state meet showing came as a freshman when she placed seventh in the Class 1A 1500-meters with a time of 4:58.52 and was a state qualifier in the 3000-meters.
Shepherd is also a cross country standout at Corning and placed fourth in this past season’s Class 1A state meet with a time of 14:53. She finished ninth at the Class 1A state meet as a junior with a time of 15:00, finished seventh as a sophomore with a time of 15:16, and finished fifth with a time of 15:30 as a freshman for a Corning team that finished fourth in the team standings.
Steph Wibben, a distance runner from Rock Rapids, Iowa, who is a senior at Central Lyon High School. Wibben finished ninth in the girl’s 1500-meter run with a time of 5:02.60 at last season’s Class 1A state meet. She also helped lead Central Lyon to runner-up finishes in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter relays and a fourth place finish in the distance medley relay at the state meet.
She placed fourth in the 1500-meters with a time of 4:56.04 at the Class 1A state meet and anchored Central Lyon to a fourth place finish in the 3200-meter relay and a sixth place finish in the distance medley relay during her sophomore campaign. As a freshman, Wibben placed fifth in the 1500-meters with a time of 4:51.07 and eighth in the 800-meters with a time of 2:22.91 at the Class 1A state meet. She also anchored Central Lyon to a third place finish in the 3200-meter relay and an eighth place finish in the distance medley relay.
Wibben was a cross country standout for George-Little Rock/Central Lyon High School and finished sixth in the Class 2A state meet with a time of 15:10 this past season. She was the Class 2A state champion as a junior with a time of 14:40 and the state runner-up as a sophomore with a time of 15:49.57. Wibben finished fourth at the Class 2A state meet as a freshman with a time of 15:32.
 Morningside competed in seven events at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Johnson City, Tenn.
Amber Price, a junior from Shelby, Iowa, finished 12th in the women’s weight throw with a distance of 50-7 1/2.
Four Morningside athletes competed in the running events, but none of them advanced beyond the prelims.
Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa, finished fourth in her preliminary heat in the women’s 1000-meters with a time of 3:03.33 to rank 12th overall.
Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb., finished second in her preliminary heat in the women’s 400-meters with a time of 59.01 seconds to rank 13th overall.
Chris Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., finished fifth in his preliminary heat in the men’s 800-meters with a time of 1:57.62 to rank 14th overall.
Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb., finished fifth in her preliminary heat in the women’s 3000-meters with a time of 10:24.68 to rank 15th overall.
Morningside also competed in two relay events, but did not get past the prelims.
The Mustangs’ 1600-meter relay quartet of Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb.; Sabrina Sieperda, a freshman from Rock Rapids, Iowa; Margo Stanforth, a junior from Platte, S.D.; and Sheri Howard, a senior from Estherville, Iowa, finished fourth in their preliminary heat with a time of 4:03.04 for the 16th fastest time in the field.
Morningside’s 3200-meter relay team of Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa; Jessica Hudelson, a freshman from Elk Point, S.D.; Tessie Cook, a junior from Ames, Iowa; and Heather Hoefs, a sophomore from Valentine, Neb.; finished fifth in their preliminary heat with a time of 9:49.47 for the 16th fastest time in the field.
 Morningside’s Dave Nash has been named the 2009 Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Co-Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year along with Concordia University’s Kregg Einspahr.
Nash’s Mustangs finished fourth in the team standings at last Saturday’s GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships for their highest finish ever at the conference meet.
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Erin Keitges |
Anne Torkelson |
Morningside had three school-record breaking performances at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships held Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
Erin Keitges, a junior from Jackson, Neb., broke school records with times of 10:20.70 in the women’s 3000-meters and 18:00.82 in the 5000-meters to finish as the runner-up in both events. Keitges held the former Morningside 5000-meter record of 18:20.42 she set last season and broke the former Mustang 3000-meter standard of 10:24.52 set last season by Kara Nelson.
The Mustangs’ other record setter was Anne Torkelson, a senior from Norfolk, Neb., who placed third in the women’s 400-meters with a time of 58.27 seconds to break the previous Morningside standard of 58.86 that was set in 1992 by Julie Heemskerk. Torkelson also placed fifth in the high jump with a height of 5-1 3/4.
The three record setting performances helped lead the Mustangs to a fourth place finish in the women’s team standings for their best finish ever at the GPAC Indoor Championships. Morningside finished eighth in the men’s team standings.
Aside from her two individual placings, Torkelson also ran the leadoff leg for a Morningside 1600-meter relay team that finished second with a time of 3:59.54. The other members of the team were Sabrina Sieperda, a freshman from Rock Rapids, Iowa; Margo Stanforth, a junior from Platte, S.D.; and Sheri Howard, a senior from Estherville, Iowa.
The Mustangs also had second place finishes from Kara Nelson, a sophomore from Cherokee, Iowa, with a time of 5:09.25 in the women’s mile; Amber Price, a junior from Shelby, Iowa, with a distance of 48-10 3/4 in the women’s weight throw; and a time of 9:46.45 in the women’s 3200-meter relay. The 3200-meter relay team was comprised of Sieperda, Jessica Hudelson, a freshman from Elk Point, S.D.; Tessie Cook, a junior from Ames, Iowa; and Heather Hoefs, a sophomore from Valentine, Neb.
Chris Nordstrom, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., had the top individual finish for the Morningside men with a third place time of 1:54.39 in the 800-meters and also helped lead the Mustangs to their top relay finish. The Mustangs also had third place finishes from Bailey Johnson, a sophomore from Milford, Iowa, with a time of 9.29 seconds in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, and a time of 3:24.37 from their men’s 1600-meter relay team of Brad South, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa; Jeremiah Avise Rouse, a junior from Tama, Iowa; Nordstrom, and Sean Howell, a junior from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
Leah Nielsen, a freshman from Sergeant Bluff, placed in two events. She was seventh in the women’s mile with a time of 5:22.11 and eighth in the women’s 1000-meters with a time of 3:11.00.
Morningside finished fifth and sixth in the women’s 600-meters with times of 1:40.46 by Stanforth and 1:41.77 by Hudelson. The Mustangs also had two place winners in the men’s high jump, where Curtis Rife, a freshman from Mondamin, Iowa, was fifth with a height of 6-4 3/4 and Kyle Groon, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, was eight at 6-2 3/4.
The Mustangs’ other individual place winners were Hoefs with a fifth place time of 2:24.37 in the women’s 800-meters and Deidre Hinkeldey, a freshman from Alta, Iowa, with an eighth place time of 26.47 seconds in the women’s 200-meters.
Morningside placed fifth in the men’s 3200-meter relay with a time of 8:07.50 from its quartet of Todd Wolf, a sophomore from Corning, Iowa; Eddy Graf, a junior from Logan, Iowa; Alex Weborg, a junior from Pender, Neb.; and Josh Steinhoff, a senior from Smithland, Iowa.
Men's Results
Women's Results
 Kara Nelson, a sophomore distance runner from Cherokee, Iowa, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Women’s Track Event Athlete of the Week.
Nelson had a pair of third place finishes at last Saturday’s University of South Dakota John Dalton Open with times of 5:11.65 in the mile and 10:35.94 in the 3000-meters. She has the nation’s fifth fastest time in the mile and the 10th fastest time in the 3000-meters so far this season.
The Mustangs will compete in the Iowa State Open on Friday and Saturday and in South Dakota’s Graphic Edge Open on Saturday.
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