TRACK AND FIELD
Hendrix’s Krug wins Division III heptathlon
Hendrix College junior Elizabeth Krug used a fifth-place finish in the heptathlon’s final event, the 800-meter run, to win Friday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships at Roger Harring Stadium in La Crosse, Wis.
Krug, of Heber Springs, jumped from fourth to first in the final event, winning with a school-record 4,835 points.
Krug finished strong Friday after a 12th-place showing in the long jump (17-0), placing third in the javelin (119-1) to move into fourth place heading into the final event. Krug (2:26.178) finished fifth in the 800, edging Theresa Ford of Emory (4,828), and Megan Stringer of Illinois College (4,822) in the final standings.
Krug started strong Thursday, winning the 200 (25.31) and placing fifth in the shot put (34-11) but struggled in the high jump.
“Both days were ‘grind it out’ days,” said Hendrix Coach Patrick MacDonald. “She had a great start and finish to Day 1, but the middle events were not spectacular. It wasn’t until we got back and saw that everyone was in the same boat that we started to really think that she had a great shot at winning.
“Going into the 800. I knew it was going to be tight. Her first lap was a little too relaxed, and then with 200 meters to go she started to push . … I really didn’t think she had done it. They flashed the scores up on the scoreboard and I caught a glimpse and thought it was a mistake. Elizabeth thought it was, too. It wasn’t until the next cycle around that I realized that it was the actual final results, and she had won by seven points.
“She has poured herself into this event for six years, she’s a deserving champion. She has always had grace, no matter the result the last few years, and she was a great champion today.”
Krug is a four-time All-American, having placed seventh in the heptathlon as a freshman and sixth last season. She earned All-America recognition in the pentathlon with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in March.
Harding’s Bell 15th in 200 meters
Harding senior Portia Bell placed fifth in her heat in the 200 meters in 24.19 seconds on Friday at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships in Pueblo, Colo. She placed 15th overall and did not qualify for today’s 200-meter final. Bell, a native of Pacoima, Calif., placed 12th in the 100 meters on Thursday. Harding will have two competitors in action today, the final day of the meet. Sophomore Ewa Zaborowska will race in the 1,500 meters final at 6:35 p.m. Central, and junior Kristen Celsor will compete in the finals of the high jump beginning at noon.
TENNIS UA doubles team eliminated
Arkansas’ Manfred Jeske and Mike Nott fell in three sets to the nation’s No. 3-ranked doubles team Friday afternoon in the round of 16 at the NCAA Doubles Championships in Urbana, Ill.
Ole Miss’ Nik Scholtz and Jonas Lutjen won the match 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3 to end Jeske and Nott’s season with an 11-12 doubles record.
Scholtz and Lutjen broke Jeske and Nott twice to win the opening set before the Arkansas team responded in the second with an early break on its way to forcing a decisive third set.
Jeske and Nott started slow in the final set, allowing Ole Miss to break them on the first serve before they battled back to get within 5-3. The Rebels held serve in the next game to clinch the match.
“I am very proud of these guys,” Arkansas Coach Robert Cox said. “They came out here today and gave it all they had. After dropping the first set they really battled back to take the second, we just couldn’t finish in the third unfortunately, but they have had a great season and should be very proud.”
The Jeske and Nott team was the first from Arkansas to play in the NCAA tournament since 2009.
SEC Vincent hired to direct communications
The SEC announced Friday that LSU’s Herb Vincent has been hired as the conference’s Associate Commissioner for Communications. Vincent is Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Senior Associate Athletics Director at LSU. He will begin his new role with the SEC in September. Vincent will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the overall communications strategies and efforts for the conference, will serve as spokesman for the SEC and act as the primary liaison between the conference office and campus communicators. Vincent earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from LSU in 1983 and is originally from North Little Rock.
“His experience at LSU and other levels of sports and sports television will be a tremendous addition to the team,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said.
BOWLING ASU bowler Lokker named to Junior Team USA
Arkansas State bowler Sarah Lokker was named to the Junior Team USA roster that will participate in the Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships that will be held July 7-12 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Lokker is the first Arkansas State bowler to travel to an international competition with Junior Team USA. Lokker, who was a sophomore this past season, was the Mid-Winter Invitational tournament MVP while also earning all-tournament honors at the Crusader Classic and Kat Klash Invitational. She was second on the ASU team with a 202.87 average and first in total pin fall with 10,747.
Sports, Pages 27 on 05/25/2013