For the record

Nicole Luckenbach broke Eastern’s school record and provisionally qualified for the NCAA track and field championships in the weight throw this weekend at the Eagles’ “Last Chance Meet” in Moscow, Idaho.

The meet provides one final opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Big Sky indoor track and field championships, which will take place Feb. 26-27 in Bozeman, Mont.
Five more Eagles took advantage of this meet and qualified for the BSCC.

Luckenbach’s 61-11 3/4 throw broke the previous record of 60-9 1/2, set by Jamie Martin in 2002. Luckenbach has already qualified for the BSC Championships.

Two more women, freshman Elise Jepsen and sophomore Michelle Coombs, qualified for the championships. Jepsen qualified in the high jump with a jump of 5-4 1/2, and Coombs qualified in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.07 seconds.

“We’ll do alright [at conference],” said women’s Head Coach Marcia Mecklenberg. “I think we have a shot at being top five if everyone performs where they’re ranked.”

Three more men also qualified at the last chance meet: Chad Butorac for the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.20; Efrain Sanchez in the pole vault, 15-7, and Marlyn Anderson in the shot put, 50-10.

“We’re shooting for top four. The group is peaking at the right time,” said men’s Head Coach Stan Kerr.

Kerr cited Armon Blackwell’s performance in the hurdles, Ben Cogdill’s vaulting, and heptathletes Kersee Lind and Tim Armstrong as exceptional performers.

“Our guys have trained well, and we feel really good about going,” Kerr said. The men’s team as a whole was strong and well balanced. “[The athletes] are very supportive of each event group,” he said. 

Kerr expects big things from previous high jump champions Stephen Praast and Adam Stewart. They’re currently ranked third and fourth in the BSC, respectively. Kerr notes that the high jump is a “wide open event, [but] we’re hoping those guys can go one-two.” Freshman Cody Fishel is another high jumper to watch for, Kerr said. Fishel is currently ranked eighth.

The Eagles will travel to Montana with the full limit of traveling athletes.