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Show Tuesday, March 6, 2012 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 9 TRACK & FIELD MARCH Utes miss mark, but keep heads up continued from Page 7 Alex Rasmussen STAFF WRITER Despite improving each week this season in almost every event, several Utes just missed the mark to qualify for the NCAA championships at the Last Chance Qualifier in South Bend, Ind. Utah's 400 meter relay team is among many that narrowly missed a shot at the championships. The relay team finished with a time of II minutes 5.78 seconds, making it the first team in NCAA history that did not qualify with a time better than II minutes six seconds. "I think we ran about as well as we humanly could," said head coach Kyle Kepler. "I don't think we could have done anything more; this is simply the fastest year in NCAA history for the [distance medley relay] and several of the middle distance events." Lucy Yates, Amanda Mergaert and Alyssa Abbott have excelled throughout the season, but each missed qualifying for the NCAA championships. Mergaert might still have a chance to make the cut. Although she didn't meet an automatic qualifying time on Saturday, she still ranks zoth in the country based on her performance at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. Her performances in the mile race this year might get her a spot in the championships, but an announcement will be made official Monday night. The NCAA indoor selection committee typically takes i6 to 19 athletes for the championship meet to be held next weekend in Boise, Idaho, Kepler said. "Several of the athletes ranked in front of Amanda are also on relay teams or in other individual events," he said. "If enough of them choose not to race the mile, Amanda could be selected." Abbott, who has qualified eight times for the NCAA cross country and outdoor track championships, was probably the biggest shut out from the NCAA championships for Utah. She set multiple personal records in South Bend, despite beginning her season just three weeks ago because of a foot injury "Alyssa will go down as one of the best track/ cross-country athletes in Utah history" Kepler said. "She has helped revive the women's track/ cross-country program as much or more than any athlete we've had over the last six years and I couldn't be more proud of an athlete I've coached." a.rasmussen@chronicle.utah.edu PHOTO COURTESY UTAH ATHLETICS Senior Alyssa Abbott recorded her personal best time in the mile, but failed to qualify for the NCAA championships. Many other Utes suffered the same fate at the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier. is national championship, and major conference tournaments have major seeding implications for the main title contenders. I'm as big of a college football fan as anyone, but every March, the one true and righteous sport shows itself. March Madness is fair, democratic and damn fun. Give (most) everybody a shot at winning the title, and watch the dominoes fall. The opening weekend is the best four days of the year — I'd trade Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl and an NBA finals Game 7 for the first two rounds of March Madness any day. The four days feature 48 games, all of which are televised live on four channels. So, you'll find people like me glued to the couch, rapidly circulating through channels and beer. If I could get my hands on a catheter so I wouldn't even have to get up and pee, life would be perfect for those four days. March Madness is obviously the marquee event, but don't think the month is slow enough to allow an NCAA tournament hangover. The NBA is getting to the good part of the season, and near the end of the month, we'll be seeing some truly meaningful games. The delayed season kind of throws things off a bit, but March NBA games will still be entertaining. If your March is saturated with basketball, there's more to diversify your portfolio. Spring training is in full swing this month, and there's a lot to whet your appetite in the baseball world. Multiple star players will be playing in new locations, so there's a lot to talk about before the season officially begins in early April. Even if you're one of the crazy people out there that doesn't care about baseball or basketball, March is still the best time of the year. If you're a skier, March is the wettest month, and there are more snowstorms on the way. Not a fan of winter? No problem. March might be wet, but it's warm enough in the valley that there will be some sunny days, and we'll start seeing some green grass and leaves on the trees by the end of the month. The summer months get everyone outside, and fall brings the promise of football. But if you want pure sports bliss, there's nothing better than March. With the NCAA tournament, spring training and meaningful basketball, not to mention improving weather, there's nothing that can make a person upset during March. Not even an annoying neighbor. j.bullinger@chronicle.utah.edu 1University MEDIA SALES GROUP „, THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH 9 3 4 3 ANSWER TO TODAY'S PUZZLE 6 6 8 3 2 8 7 9 4 7 9 5 6 9 1 5 2 8 7 4 pp A D R Ap0 D UM A D OMANI P D A MEMUMMBEM ROM A P 0©0©A ©P P 0 9 7 Answers can be found on the website at www.s udoku.com mom 11 ©A noRgAm omm MpoDEMMMMOM MMMAMM MMM M 0 0 P P lumAgo [wpm 0 pm A IIMM MEM Mil RMUM mA Fmk D ApBlip D MM MMM 11 AMUM A MAMPMM AMMR MM R MM EMM0D DMMMO A A ME ME 1111 A B MMM A 11 0 11 MD R 11 DM ABM popculturecomics.com CD Doug Bratton 2009 you' RE Nar WA, 14013D .S. AND I PoN'T WORD FoR TIE C.I.A. 5)1 ao 0- Bill Watterson's A Beautiful Mind FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 3X Rewards Points on All Gas Purchases Apply for Your Rewards Credit Card Today! 0) RIFT |