UW-Platteville will send two relay teams and two individuals to the NCAA III indoor track and field national championships Friday and Saturday at Rose-Hulman University in Terre Huete, Ind.
Jessica Scott will defend her national title in the 800-meter run and will be on both the distance medley relay and the 4x400 relay teams. She joins Alison Glendenning, Gina Smith and Ann Tank on the DMR squad, and Liz Baker, Glendenning, and Tank on the 4x400. Corey Digman has qualified in the 35-pound weight throw.
"I'm excited to have that many relay teams, because we haven't done that in a while," Pioneer Coach Jim Nickasch said. "That's pretty cool."
Scott has the fastest qualifying time by nearly two seconds in the 800. Her best time this season is in 2:10.12, well ahead of St. Norbert's Ashley Graybill at 2:12.07. Several anticipated 800 challengers switched to the distance medley relay race, giving that relay race potentially one of the strongest competitions it has had.
"One of her biggest challenges of the weekend will be to run the 800 trials (Friday night) and then come back to run the DMR," Nickasch said. "Those events are 20 minutes apart."
Both Pioneer relay teams are ranked fifth nationally. The DMR has a best time of 11:55.23, while Tufts has turned in the season's best time so far in 11:47.96. The 4x400 has run a 3:56.08. Wartburg has the best qualifying mark of 3:46.43 in a field that also includes second-seeded UW-Stevens Point, fourth-seeded UW-La Crosse and sixth-seeded UW-Eau Claire. The top eight finishes in each event earn all-America status.
"You always go in with high expectations," Nickasch said. "Whatever happens, nobody knows, but that's our mindset going in."
Digman has the season's fourth-best weight throw at 59-3.5. Eau Claire's Sam Johnson leads the field at 63-11. Both Digman and Johnson set their marks at the WIAC championships, and six of the 14 throwers are from the conference.
"Digger will do well out there," Nickasch said. "He'll be fine."
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