May 16, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - At the third day of the 2008 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, but the first for the University of Northern Colorado, the Bears qualified six in seven events for the finals tomorrow and had two finalists finish in the top eight.

The first to qualify for the finals was senior Jeff Vaden in the 110 meter hurdles. Vaden clocked a 14.89, just .01 off his season best time to qualify sixth. Sophomore Tyler Hoerner also advanced to day two, running a season best time of 47.71 in the 400 meters to qualify with the fourth quickest time. Freshman Terrence McGaughy won the first heat of the 100 meter preliminaries, clocking a 10.65 for the second fastest time of the day. He also qualified fourth in the 200 meters after running a 21.47. Sophomore Marty Wittmer qualified seventh in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 54.25.

Vaden also finished fourth in the long jump, leaping 23-1.25. The top five for the men all had jumps in the 23-foot range and Vaden ends his jumping career with a season best leap. Junior Patrick Berg finished eighth in the shot put with a throw of 50-5.25.

For the women, sophomore Justine Sandersfeld posted the fourth fastest time en route to tomorrow's finals in the 400 meters after clocking a 56.11. Senior Ashley Stec will also be competing on Saturday, as she qualified with the sixth fastest time in the 400 meter hurdles after running a 1:02.98.

The men's and women's 10,000 meters have been pushed back to a late start on the West Coast due to heat, so results will be posted tomorrow.

The Big Sky Conference Championship concludes tomorrow at host Sacramento State.