May 27, 2006
Track and Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State senior Jordan Fife was the Sycamores’ lone automatic qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as he finished third in the regional 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:49.33. Indiana State throwers Charlie Sparks and Jason Carruthers did not make their automatic standards, but will await the possibility of an at-large berth pending other regional results this weekend. This weekend’s NCAA Regional Meet was held at the University of Tennessee’s Tom Black Stadium.

Fife was out of the top five with 200 meters remaining in the race, but he caught a total of four runners during its completion to finish third. It will be Fife’s second consecutive appearance at the NCAA National Championships, after qualifying at last season’s regional meet in Bloomington, Ind.

ISU’s Drew Traub did not advance after fouling on two attempts in the shot put, and then recording a throw of just 49 feet, 10 inches to finish 23^rd.

Paladin Jordan was successful in the triple jump by finishing eighth with a bound of 49 feet, 10.5 inches on his final leap of the day.  On the women’s side, Yolanda Wright finished 10th with a leap of 40 feet, 8.5 inches). Wright narrowly missed a spot in the finals by mere inches.

ISU pole vaulter Melissa Ullenbruch finished eighth — as she cleared 12 feet, 6 inches on her second attempt from that height. She missed a chance at the automatic qualification, by missing on her next three attempts.

Fife, along with any ISU at-large selections are slated to appear at the NCAA National Championships, which begin on June 7 in Sacramento, Calif. The meet is hosted by Sacramento State University.