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Pole-vaulter, track team
prepare for competition
By Greg Doddridge
Staff
Writer
Ebbie Metzinger wants to automatically qualify
for the outdoor NCAA championships in the pole vault so that she doesn't
have to play a waiting game on a provisional list.
The junior vaulter jumped 3.92 meters indoors,
good enough to provisionally qualify, but not automatically. Because
of the set number of pole-vaulters the NCAA decided to take at the indoor
meet, she didn't make the trip to Fayetteville, Ark. Instead, the NCAA
took the athlete who vaulted just one centimeter higher at 3.93 meters.
For the outdoor season, Metzinger doesn't want
to be put in that type of predicament again. She wants to qualify in
the pole vault with no questions asked. That mark is 4.10 meters. And
this past weekend at the Purdue Open, she vaulted 4.00 meters. Metzinger
said her clearing of that height was the first time the feat had been
accomplished by a female athlete in the Big Ten.
"After clearing it, it was a relief because I was
at a mental point where I was at ease once I set back and let it go,"
said Metzinger. "It was nice to hit that goal."
She said it was important to clear that psychological
barrier.
"To finally do it in competition, you know you
can do it, " said Metzinger. "I feel more relaxed and confident. I want
to build on that."
She has a chance to get closer to her goal of hitting
4.10 meters this weekend at the 74th annual Texas Relays on the campus
of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. There will be more than
5,000 athletes competing in more than 120 events.
Metzinger will be facing the top two pole-vaulters
(in terms of heights cleared this outdoor season) in the nation this
weekend — Tracy O'Hare of UCLA and Thorey Elisdottir of Georgia.
Elisdottir won the indoor title and O'Hare has vaulted 4.09 meters.
Metzinger's vault of 4.00 is tied for the fifth-highest height in the
nation.
Other athletes are looking forward to the Texas
relays.
"The level of competition is the elite of the elite,"
said Prentice Stovall. "It will help for the Big Ten and NCAA championships."
In addition to Stovall and Metzinger, several other
Purdue athletes will also be making the trip to Austin this weekend:
Markus Williams, Doug Payne, Matt Hartman, Shaun Guice, Ryan Fitzpatric,
Daniel Harris, Amukela Gwebu, Chris Brown, Igor Kirin, Nick Swathwood,
Serene Ross, Angela Craft, Kim Jordan, Krissy Liphardt, Shanna Carter,
Tina Johnson, Angela Anoliefoh, Katie Meyer and Amy Spellmeyer. The
rest of the team will be travelling to Eastern Illinois to compete in
relays there this weekend.
In Texas, the level of competition includes several
teams ranked high in the team power rankings, a gauge that tries to
mimic how the teams would hypothetically do at the national championships.
Top women's teams include second-ranked UCLA, fifth-ranked LSU, sixth-ranked
Arizona and ninth-ranked Texas. On the men's side, LSU is ranked number
one, Arkansas is third, Tennessee is fourth and Texas is tied for 16th.
The Purdue men are No. 21 and the women are ranked 17th.
"You know who is there and what you have to do,"
said Stovall. "You have to
think positive. You have to think you are the cream
of the crop."
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Singles
spots to play key role in Wisconsin, Purdue match
Boilers
make Academic All-Big Ten team
Experienced
coach to join soccer staff as assistant
Pole-vaulter,
track team prepare for competition
Purdue
to rely on pitching for Northwestern series
Boilers
prepare to face Big Ten in weekend conference action
SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111
ext. 251
Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki
Assistant sports
editor:
Anne
McLaren
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