March 5, 2004
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Boilermaker pole vaulters Megan Darraugh and Jocelyn Lindsay will miss the indoor national championships next week at Arkansas, after both fell short of the NCAA qualifying standard Friday night at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational.
Lindsay and Darraugh needed to attain a height of 13 feet, 9 1/4 inches in order to advance to the big dance; however, Lindsay topped off at 12-2 3/4 and Darraugh at 11-9.
It was not a total loss for Boilermaker pole vaulting, as 2002 Big Ten indoor champion Ebbie Metzinger, won the Wilson title at 13-7 1/4. Metzinger and former teammates Katie Rorem and Simona Kovacic all competed unattached.
The Boilermakers have two athletes making the trip to Fayetteville, Nedzad Mulabegovic and Keith McBride. Kenneth Baxter, Tiffany Britten, Scott Hecht and Igor Kirin stand a good chance to compete, as well, since all have hit the NCAA provisional standard in their repsective events. To improve their chances of making the cut, Baxter and Britten will compete Saturday, along with Kara Lahey.
Baxter, considered one of the nation's top sprinters, will attempt to qualify for the 60 and 200-meter dashes. Britten looks to strengthen her mark in the shot put, and Lahey hopes to make it under 9 minutes and 16 seconds in the 3,000-meter run.
Saturday's competitions begin at 10:30 a.m. and conclude around 3:30 p.m.