March 4, 2011
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Two Boilermakers took their last shot at NCAA Championship qualification on Friday as junior Leah Eber and senior Emily Breslin looked to improve on their season bests at the Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational at Loftus Sports Center.
Eber posted a distance of 6.22 meters in the long jump. The leap was not an improvement on her 6.27 meter mark that she set last weekend at the Big Ten Championships. However, she is currently still in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships as she shares the No. 16 mark in the country. If no other jumper is able to pass that distance, Eber will be eligible.
Breslin finished the invitational just off her season-best after clearing a height of 1.77 meters. The senior had previously cleared a mark of 1.79 meters twice this season, including a silver-medal effort at the Big Ten Championships. Breslin's jump was just short of the 1.82 meter mark she needed to have a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational continues tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. ET. Seniors Bill Hardcastle and Shane Crawford will compete for the Purdue men's team while classmate Stacey Wannemacher and freshman Dani Bunch will represent the women's side.