Iowa State Sends Six Competitors to NCAA Track and Field Championships
Seniors David Rotich, Tony Douglas and Erica Lynn will lead the way for the Cyclones.
June 5, 2006
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State men's and women's track and field teams will send six competitors in search of All-America honors to the 2006 NCAA outdoor track and field championships to be held Wednesday through Saturday in Sacramento, Calif. Competing for the men's team will be senior David Rotich in the 1500 meters, senior Tony Douglas in the long jump, sophomore Chase Madison (Newton) in the discus and decathlete Neil Hines. Senior hepthatlete Erica Lynn of Ames and junior Sara Boisen of West Des Moines will represent the women's team.
Rotich, an All-American, will compete in the 1500-meter run. Although this is Rotich's first trip to the NCAA outdoor championships, he has had experience against top competitors. Rotich was the NCAA indoor mile runner-up at the 2006 championships. Rotich finished second at the Big 12 outdoor championships in the 1500-meter final with a new personal best, 3:42.03.
"He's just got the right mentality," said men's distance coach Corey Ihmels. "He's never been too intimidated by anything or anyone. He's looking at it as another race and a big opportunity to do what he's capable of doing."
Douglas and Hines return to the NCAA meet for the second time. Both athletes competed at the 2005 NCAA outdoor meet, Douglas in the triple jump and Hines in the decathlon.
Douglas returns this year in the long jump, coming in with a personal best leap of 25-8, set at the NCAA Midwest Regional, May 26 in Austin, Texas. Douglas, who has overcome a pulled hamstring this season, took third place at the regional meet to earn him a spot at the national competition.
"(Douglas) is ready to jump farther than he has," said jumps coach Ron McEachran. "I'd like to see him get a personal record and if he can do that he will do just fine. It's hard to set goals and say that I'd like him to get in the top three or top five at nationals because everyone there is good. There isn't anyone there that isn't good."
Hines returns to the competition in the decathlon. He finished fourth in the event at the Big 12 championships with a personal record of 7,259 points. Hines, who has improved throughout the season, will be battling a hip injury suffered during mid-season. Men's head coach Steve Lynn said Hines will take the competition event-by-event.
"Unfortunately he (Hines) is nowhere near 100 percent physically and that's too bad because if he wasn't injured I think he would definitely have a chance to finish top eight," coach Lynn said. "He will go through some times out in Sacramento where it's going to be tough and then times were it's going to go well. I really admire his ability to push and continue to get better even when he is fighting an injury that is limiting on what he can do."
Thrower Madison will compete in his first NCAA championship in the discus throw. Madison's personal best throw of 195-6 early in the season earned him an at-large berth when he did not automatically qualify at the Midwest regional meet.
"There will be no wind out in Sacramento so he's going to have to put his best effort in on the first day to make it to the final 12 for the second round of competition," said throws coach Dan O'Mara. "After we get to finals, it's about trying to get in the top eight and be an All American."
On the women's side of the competition, Boisen and Erica Lynn will both embark on their first NCAA championship.
Boisen had a disappointing indoor season after contracting mononucleosis, but she was able to overcome her illness to have a strong outdoor season. Boisen finished third in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big 12 outdoor championships and the Midwest regional.
"I think it (mononucleosis) really helped to prepare her for the outdoor season,"
ISU women's hurdles coach Scott Roberts said. "I think she was really intent on making a mark and she had a fantastic outdoor season. A year ago, her personal best was around 60.7 and she was under 60 seconds three times this year and almost under 59 once. We are thrilled she has made that progress."
Erica Lynn, a senior, will compete in her final heptathlon as a Cyclone. She goes into the competition with a personal best score of 5,386 points, which earned her a second-place finish at the Drake Relays.
"It would be great if she could achieve a personal best in each of the seven events," said women's head coach Dick Lee. "That would give her a shot at being an all-American. She's performed great at meets all year and that would be a great way to end her career."
Results from the meet can be found at the end of each day of competition at
www.cyclones.com.
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