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Lincoln - The Husker track and field team hit four more provisional qualifying marks at the 2008 Nebraska Last Chance meet held Thursday, March 6, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track.
Freshman Natalie Willer used the momentum of her second-place finish on Friday, Feb. 29, at the Big 12 Indoor Championships to finish in first in the pole vault by reaching the height of 13-1 1/2 (4.00). The vault was a new personal best for Willer and improved her NCAA provisional-qualifying mark. The freshman from Elkhorn, Neb., continues to impress as she now is tied for the fifth-best vault in Husker indoor history with Jenna Blubaugh who jumped 13-1 1/2 on Feb. 24, 2006.
Coach Kris Grimes said he is excited to see Willer compete in the outdoor season.
“Natalie (Willer) continues to impress me because she has so much confidence for a freshman. She knows she can compete at the top of the Big 12 and she learns something new everyday at practice. I am really excited to see what she can do during the outdoor season,” said Grimes.
Senior Bryan Bell reached an NCAA provisional-qualifying mark in the men's weight throw with a toss of 64-3 1/4 (19.59). The mark was a new personal best for Bell, shattering his old mark by almost a foot at 11 1/4 inches. The toss moved him up to No. 7 all time in the Husker indoor record book.
Redshirt-freshman Amanda Latsch improved her personal-best and NCAA provisional-qualifying mark in the shot put with a throw of 50-7 1/2 (15.43). She finished right behind former Husker and current volunteer coach Jeni Steiner who threw 52-4 (15.95).
Freshman Lehann Fourie also reached the NCAA provisional qualifying time in the men's 60-meter hurdles. However, Fourie has already posted a better time this season of 7.81 at the adidas Classic on Feb. 9.
Today was not the final shot at the national meet for many Husker athletes, as the team will also compete at the Iowa State Last Chance meet on Saturday, March 8. Distance-runner Peter van der Westhuizen will be competing on Saturday at the UW Last Chance in Seattle, Wash. The track at Ames and Seattle are 300-meter oversized tracks, making for better times for the Husker runners. Check Huskers.com for live results and recaps of each meet.