The Collegian

Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports

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With Hillsdale coming off a third place finish for the women and fifth for the men in the GLIAC Championship meet last week, the NCAA Track and Field Committee admitted five Chargers to compete in this year's NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championship held March 14 and 15 at the University of Houston.

Senior Andrew Dodson, sophomore Marta Scheiwe, juniors Aaron Falk and Jared Krout, and freshman Amanda Putt were all accepted.

Dodson, Krout and Falk are all former All-Americans who will try and redeem their somewhat disappointing finish at last week's GLIAC Championships held at Saginaw Valley State University.

Although the weekend produced many personal bests and four new school records in the women's long jump, the men and women's weight throw and the men's distance medley, the Chargers said they thought they came up short of their potential.

"We didn't perform as well as we would have liked to," Falk said. "We were physically ready, but we just weren't mentally there."

Falk improved his national ranking to fourth in the division off his record-breaking heave in the weight throw that earned him third place at GLIAC Championships. He currently sits at 23rd in the nation, including Division I.

Assistant track and field coach Jeff Forino agreed with Falk's assessment and said Falk and senior Kurt Weil were the only throwers who delivered. He said the girls team threw fairly well, but he expected more.

Falk and freshman Kathy Dirksen broke their fellow teammate's records in the weight throw at Saginaw last week. Dirksen overtook junior Anna Leutheuser's record, and Falk beat out senior Jason Stomps' mark - both records were set earlier this year.

Krout is still heading for Texas in two weeks, despite a questionable toe-foul called last week that disqualified a long jump. This jump would have automatically qualified him for nationals. Krout is seeded 13th in the event and looks to claim his fifth career All-American honor.

Dodson heads into this year's national meet ranked ninth and looks to earn his second All-American honor.

For the women, Putt marked her personal best in the mile last weekend, earning first place in the conference championships, 12th seed at nationals and an all-expense paid trip to Texas.

For the second time in her career Scheiwe is bound for nationals, this time seeded tenth in the 400 meter dash.

Scheiwe said she enjoyed her time at nationals last year and considers the opportunity to represent Hillsdale an honor she won't soon forget.

She said watching other sports compete at the NCAA Division II Winter National Championships Festival is also a part of the trip she awaits.

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