The road to Minnesota and Nationals
Published: March 10, 2006Section: Sports
Brandeis will bring three track athletes to the NCAA Division III Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. The three well-deserving Judges are Ryan Parker '06, Jane Farrell 06 and Anat Benun 09.
Parker was victorious in the 800-meter run at both the UAA and the New England Championships. The talented veteran will be an eighth seeded entry with a season PR of 1:53.42. This weekends race marks the fourth Division III indoor championships appearance for Parker in as many years. Ryans above mentioned UAA performance helped the Judges secure a third place finish in the conference championships meet.
Farrells UAA record setting leap of 116.25 in the pole vault paved the way for the lady Judges to finish 4th in their UAA Championship meet. Jane enters the NCAA meet with the no.7 national ranking from her career best vault of 119.25 at the Tufts Invitational back in early February. One year ago Farrell captured All-American honors with a fifth place finish in the nationals.
Finally, there is the rookie phenomenon, Benun. Benun was the runner up in the triple jump event at the New England Division III meet with a leap of 368.5. She was even better at the UAA championships with a distance of 386.25.
Editor's Note:
Linda Kropp '07 will not be headed to nationals, but nevertheless deserves recognition for her outstanding accomplishments despite battling serious injuries. The reigning Division III New England long jump champion and UAA rookie of the year looks to stage a comeback this spring after being hampered by back injuries last year. Based on her improving results this winter, look for Kropp, the Framingham, MA native to be one of the best jumpers and sprinters in Massachusetts.David Ostrowsky