 "Photo: Josh O'Bright")
The UW-Oshkosh men's indoor track and field team competed in two “last-chance,” non-scored, national qualifying meets this weekend—one on Friday at UW-Platteville and one on Saturday at UW-Stevens Point.
Sophomore Nate Stymiest won the men's 1,600-meter run on Saturday with a time of 4:11:57.
"It was fun and was a great opportunity for me to run out in front with the rabbit leading it and pushing the pace,” Stymiest said. “It is a new PR (personal record) for me by three seconds, because it used to be a 4:14.52 mile."
In addition, the men's 4x400 relay team ran a new school record and received second place with a time of 3:17.59.
Also, senior Ben Wizner won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:54.57.
Altogether Oshkosh will send 10 athletes to Greencastle, Ind. to compete in the NCAA Division III National Championship.
"These meets this weekend were last chances to improve their performances and get a spot at nationals,” head coach John Zupanc said. “We have 10 guys going, which is good because you have to be top-12 in the country, which is hard to do."
"We're bringing a good veteran group, so I think we have a good chance to bring home a trophy from nationals," Zupanc said.
Athletes on the men's team going to nationals include the distance medley relay team, the men's 4x400 relay team, junior Tony Baker in the weight throw and the shot put, senior Ben Zill in the 400-meter run and James Simms in the triple jump and long jump.
Zupanc was also selected as the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in his fifth season as the head coach for the Titans.
"It's always nice to get recognized,” Zupanc said. “But it was a tough meet and with Ben Zill taking the Track Athlete of the Meet in the pentathlon and Tony Baker as the Field Athlete of the Meet in the weight and shot, I would definitely take all three of those into consideration and trade that in for those 3.5 points at the meet we fell short in at UW-Platteville.”
The NCAA Championship will get underway from Greencastle at 3 p.m. on Friday.
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