Press Release

Feb. 5, 2010

Adams, Walters Push Higher on Performance Lists

Results

MARYVILLE, Mo.-Northwest Missouri State sophomore Angela Adams and junior Kate Walter gave career-best performances in the 5,000-meter run and weight throw, respectively, to improve their provisional-qualifying marks at separate meets Friday.

Adams, the lone Bearcat to compete at the University of Nebraska's Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, won the 5,000-meter race with a time of 17:15.07, a five-second improvement from three weeks ago and the fourth-best time in the nation. Adams bested a field of 18 other runners, which included several Division I athletes.

Walter and the rest of the Bearcat women competed at Central Missouri's Mule Relays in Warrensburg. Walter placed second in the weight throw with a toss of 55-feet-4.25-inches, more than two feet better than what she threw two weeks ago. Walter, who entered with the nation's 24th-best mark in the event, could move as high as 13th on the list.

Other standout performances by Northwest included senior Emily Churchman, who won the high jump in a jump-off against Missouri Southern's Lisa Vengels. Churchman set an indoor career-best mark by clearing 5-feet-5.25-inches.

Junior Bridget Klein won the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.48s. She ran 26.64s in the 200-meter dash and placed fifth. Junior Kayli Hrdlicka placed second in the 800-meter run with a career-best time of 2:27.80 - the fastest time turned in by a Bearcat in the 800 this season.

Senior Johanna Avilez, freshman Megan Davis and Churchman placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdles. Avilez ran 9.22s in the finals. Davis' season-best mark of 9.18s came in the prelims. Churchman's 9.26s in the finals was a career-best.

Senior Jane Bowness ran a career-best time of 10:47.20 in the 3,000-meter run and freshman Chelsie Dailey leaped 17-feet-8.25-inches in the long jump - a season best. Both placed second. Senior Jennifer Dittburner shaved 16 more seconds off her top time in the 5,000-meter run and placed third with a time of 18:56.94.

Northwest's men's squad gets its chance tomorrow at the Mule Relays. Field events start at 11:30 a.m. while running events begin at 3 p.m.