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For the first time in more than five years, a CWRU outdoor track
athlete has qualified for the 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track
and Field Championships. And there are actually two-one in the
men's shot put and one in the women's steeplechase.
Spartan senior Kyle Whitling of Bolivar, Ohio, made his first
NCAA postseason appearance in his last attempt, while freshman
Amy Staub of Oil City, Pa., made it in her first try.
Whitling, who graduated this May with a degree in engineering,
recorded the country's 14th best throw (The top 15 qualify for
nationals.) in the shot put with 15.70 meters during the University
Athletic Association Championships in April. He was named the
UAA championship's MVP, beating out his twin brother Kurt, who
finished second.
"Kyle worked hard this past season, and you have to give him
credit," said Head Coach Dennis Harris. "He beat his brother Kurt
for the first time at the UAAs, and what a win it was, as it ultimately
landed him in the big show."
Staub, who recently finished her first year of college at CWRU,
recorded the country's 16th best time (The top 17 qualify for
nationals.) in the steeplechase at Baldwin Wallace College last
month. She finished in 11:14.54.
Staub traditionally has been a distance runner, but decided to
try the steeplechase late in the season.
"Amy normally runs the 5,000 but wanted to run the steeplechase
because she thought it would be fun," said Head Coach Kathy Lanese.
"Well, it has turned out to be more than that as she qualified
for the NCAA's in just her third race."
The national championships were hosted by Macalester College
in St. Paul, Minn. Staub finished 15th with a time of 11:34.19,
while Whitling recorded a mark of 15.36 meters in his first throw
but did not place.
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