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Show I ~· ~ . --- - THE 1mIVE.RSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNfv.ER$,ITY, • WEDNESDA'Y, MAY,2.0, 1998 ,. - 'BIRD SPORTS -- ll331 Track completes a great season Another pair of By CHAD LAMB. JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Looking back at what was an amazing year in SU sports, the biggest feat by any team has accomplished at Southern Utah is what the outdoor track and field squads did to the Mid-Continent Conference this season. Besides breaking 14 school records combined, the men and women swept every honor in outdoor competition. Head Coach Eric Houle was named more were on the bubble. Richards, a senior from Carson City, Nev., set a qualifying mark n the decathlon when he recorded 7,241 points earlier this season. He qualified in the javelin as well with a school record mark of 221-9. Although Houle is not sure if Richards will be chosen to attend the championships when calls are made this weekend, Houle has nothing but praise for Richards in whom he considers a quality athlete. Gibson has the best chance of making the championships with a season-best time of 58.80 in the 400-meter hurdles. According to Houle, this will be that last Mid-Con Coach of the Year as weekend of-competition as all helped lead the teams to a sweep the conferences finish up, and of the conference competition. , Gibson's mark should stand, Along with that, Layne Richards allowing her a trip to the was named Mid-Con male athlete championships June 3-6. of the year, Natalie Gibson was Jody Benson was another female athlete of the year and hopeful for the championships after he set a provisional mark in Kris Watson followed up with newcomer of the year honors. the 10,000. Houle said that his Houle said he is excited for ·,~~~i~~!~I time is not low enough which what has happened in the track PJ puts him on the bubble. The program this year and the coaches have been trying to get him to one more meet and run possibilities the future holds for SU both in the Mid-Con and in one last time before the May 25 the country. deadline, which is the final date a "This has given us an L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - =-=> ::::......_ _--' runner can tum a provisional opportunity to build a stronger time in. Head Coach Eric Houle - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Houle added that although the program, and also exposes the program to the community," team is losing some key athletes this year, there are some strong recruits that should Houle said. He also expressed his enthusiasm for the help fill the void. "For those we are losing, we should success of those athletes that have qualified nationally be getting some that can replace them," said Assistant with provisional scores. Only Ted Hansen has qualified for the NCAA championships for Southern Utah, but Coach Bish Dolegiewicz. "The kids coming in are going to be really good." this season three athletes have qualified and several ~00 l UOTO W~DDING INVIT~TION~ W/DOU.hU INV.CLOP.CS ONLV i 10Q 70,jVitiflt!J /Jio 1u~m Ll~NV bOC-4726 ~.:e~~~~ 4Q1 t ffi~IN. C!D~~ CITV P~I({ ~ULHH ~ 20% Dl~COUHT OH ~ll lttYlrnTIOHt H~PUIH~~HD rn~H~ vou rn~D~ athletes honored An SU softball player and a baseball player have been named to th eir respective 1998 University Division GTE Academic All-District Vlll squads. Christy Burge, a catcher on the softball squad and Phil Downing, an outfielder on the Thunderbird baseball team, were selected to the two 10-player squads announced Monday. Burge, a junior form Riverton, Utah, earned second-team GTE academic All-America recognition last year. This season she helped lead the Lady 'Birds to a 12-24 record, including a 6-5 mark and a second-place finish in the MidContinent Conference's Western Division. Burge led the 'Birds in batting, slugging, runs scored, RBI, walks, on-base percentage and in triples, where she ranks among the nation's top20 with 0.17 per game. Her cumulative GPA of 3.848 in computer information systems is the highest on the district squad. Downing, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, carries a G~A of 3.521 in biology. He is ranked among the nation's top-30 with a batting average of .400 and led the 'Birds in runs scored, doubles, total bases and on-base percentage as well as in hitting in 1998. He was a key to the team's 2-28 finish, its best since moving to NCAA Division I play eight years ago. Burge and Downing bring the Thunderbirds total of Academic All-District selections to five this year, following Curits Cook and Brook Madsen in football and Myndee larsen in basketball. Larsen went on to receive first-team GTE academic All-American. Players arc selected by voting among the district's sports informa tion directors. 2BD I BO I 8th 28th 426 E Nichols canyon Cedar City, Ut 84720 Ph: 865-1455 Fx: 865-1427 TDD 1-800-346-4128 All Units Feature Central Air, Gas Heat, Dishwashers, Garbage Disposal, Covered Parking, Washer/Dryer, Cable, Extra Storage Stop by and let us show you our model unit and the features of affordable living at Kensingon Apartment Communities Open Mon-Fri 9 to 6 Sat 11 to 3 Income limits apply |