(CHARLESTON, Ill. – FEB. 22) – The McKendree University women’s indoor track and field team had five individuals qualify for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in eight events at the Eastern Illinois University Friday Night Special meet.

 

Junior Sophy Yapsabila (Kampala, Uganda/Bubulo Girls) won the 5000m run in a time of 18:27.75 to claim the one top honor for the Bearcats. Second place finishers for the Bearcats were junior Sara Pettersen (Antioch, Ill./Grant) (Antioch, Ill./Grant) in the 1000m run and junior Lanece Clarke (Nassau, Bahamas/C.R. Walker) (Nassau, Bahamas) in the 60m and 200m dashes. Junior Jamie Thomas (Calumet City, Ill./Thornridge) (Calumet City, Ill./Thornridge) qualified in the triple jump, long jump, and 60m hurdles with finishes of 3^rd, 7^th and 8^th, respectively. The 4x400m relay team of Clarke, Thomas, sophomore Nicole Neal (Normal, Ill./University) (Normal, Ill./University), and junior Tammara Francis (Port Moore St. Catherine, Jamaica) finished in fourth place to also qualify for nationals.

 

All Bearcat qualifiers will travel to Johnson City, Tenn. March 6-8 to compete at the NAIA Indoor Championships held at the Memorial Center.