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Show Wednesday, March 29, 2000 Page 12 THE SIGNPOST Sports Clinger, Cottttle continue to cash in for 'Cats By Jose Carvajal asst. sports eclitor-Tbe Signpost Only 18 members of the men's and women's track and field teams got to make the trip to the Stanford Invitational at Palo Alto. Calif. And the only Wildcats to come home with a first- or second-place finish were Charles dinger and Brooke Cottle. The meet also included teams from the University of Oregon, University of Washington, University of Arkansas and the University of Michigan. Clinger, a junior, took first-place honors in the high jump and second place in the long jump. 1 lis jump of 7-6.5 feet is a new Big Sky record in the high jump and is his best jump of the season, assuring him a spot at the Olympic Trials. Coach Dan Walker was quite impressed with dinger's performance. "He had a terrific performance," said Walker of dinger's jump, which was the best jump in Big Sky Conference history. "Mis performance was well ahead of schedule," Walker said. "Our plan was for him to jump 7-8 at the Olympic Trials." There is only one jumper in the nation who has recorded a higher mark, and that was a jump of 7-9. The goal still is to have Clinger jump 7-8 in the Olympic Trials, but if he reaches that before the Trials, then the mark may raise. Clinger was named the top field performer at the meet thanks to his outstanding performances in both the high jump and long jump. But Clinger wasn't the only Wildcat to impress at the meet. Cottle, a junior, came in with the best finish on the women's side with asecond-place mark in the high jump with a jump of 5-8.5. Tracye Lawyer took first-place honors in the women's high jump with a jump of 5-10.5. Lawyer is a post-collegiate participator and was not affiliated with any of the schools participating. Cottle had the best finish out of the collegiate athletes participating in the event. While Cottle was better than most at the meet, she wasn't too pleased with her performance. "She was disgusted because in the i0 .ft. ... ' rrt:W Charles Clinger displays his Olympic talent at the Wildcat Invitational in February. three previous meets, she's jumped 5-11 or better," Walker said. "She expects to jump at least 6-0 at every meet. Anything less than that and she's not happy." Cottle will also be participating at the Olympic Trials, which will be held in July. While she holds the school record at 6-0.5, her aim at the trials will be 6-2. Overall, it was a good day for Walker and his all-star jumpers. "I was pleased with Brooke and I was thrilled with Charles," Walker said. Walker feels that he is blessed to be coaching two Olympic-destined athletes. 'They both have fantastic work ethic," he said. "Both do everything I ask and do it on their own. They're the whole complete package and great athletes." Not only do Clinger and Cottle do their jobs on the field, but they have those leadership skills that would make any coach happy to have them on their team. 'They influence not only the jumpers, but everybody," Walker said. "Everybody sees how hard they work. They make the rest of the team better by their example." Other notables at the meet included Jason Schoenfeld, who broke his own school record in the 10,000-meter run (29:16.68), and Wes Davis, who turned in a top time in the high hurdles (14.15). Lee Lorenz (1:50.71) and Greg J, - 1 J i .. vt.... fr Si F4 Brooke Cottle McKinley (1:51.66) had strong performances in the 800-meter run, and Joel Atwater (3:50.02) did well in the 1,500-meter run. The Wildcats will have a bye this weekend, and will host the Wildcat invitational on April 8. The Truman Show Preston Truman sports editor Gators, Tarheels lucky If this year were last year, North Carolina would be ousted and Florida would be remembering Webber State, or Weber State, pretty fondly. But this year is this year, unfortunately, and the Wildcats are not in anyone's memories outside Wildcatville. The Gators and Tarheels, however, are on their way to Indianapolis for the NCAA's Final Four, hoping to become national champions over the weekend. Both teams are just lucky. Lucky that this year isn't last year, and that the Wildcats weren't invited to the world's biggest bust of a party. Speaking of the tourney ... I know, I know, you're thinking "get over it already." Believe me, I really have accepted the fact that WSU didn't make the field of 64 this season. Watching this year's tournament whittle down to four teams, two of which are No. 8 seeds (Carolina and Florida), made it easy to deal with, and here's why: The selection committee, inside that secret dark room in idiotland, blindfolded each other, put every team's name in the nation in a big basket, pulled them out randomly and played pin the tail on the donkey on a large-as-life bracket seedings and all. Puts the mind at ease, doesn't it? Speaking of the tourney II ... Quick question: Is it just me, or does it appear that Gators' coach Billy Donovan is challenging Miami Heat coach Pat Riley for see Truman page 13 JJ?!, l.'S.'S SOI IKDOIhTh 'ftAjj 41 r5 c"? er wr cra r"5 c;"3e?s enS er'T mm 0) x2l CIRCLE ONE FROM EACH MATCH-UP (0 laVweber StateX s. Montana State Sonics Blazers Suns Pistons Hawks Rockets 76ers Kings Raptors Hornets Grizzlies Mavericks Florida v. UNC " MSU v. Wisconsin Jazz Nuggets Knicks Lakers Spurs Heat T'wolves Pacers Tie Breaker: Guess the score of the FloridaUNC game. Picks must be brought in to The Signpost office before Thursday. Name GUESS THE SCORE Phone: SIGNPOST PICKS lavnee Paskins UNC MSU Nuggets Lakers Heat T'wolves Blazers Suns Rockets Kings Raptors Mavericks lose Carvaial Florida MSU Nuggets Lakers Heat Pacers Blazers Pistons Hawks Kings Raptors Mavericks Preston Truman UNC MSU Jazz Lakers Heat Pacers Blazers Pistons Rockets Kings Raptors Mavericks RULES: Circle (he winner of each game, tear oul the enlry form and bring it in lu the Signpost olfiee in room 267 of the Shepherd Union Building by 5 p.m. this Friday. Only one entry per WSU student, faculty, or staff member. The person who picks the most winners of each of the games correctly w ins a large specially pizza from Pier 49 San Francisco Sourdough Piz.a. In the event of a tie. tire pi.a will go to the one who picks the closest score of the upcoming WSU game. CONGRATS TO THIS WEEK'S WINNER Matthew Rosier |