YES, we aim to please-Senior Amy Sullivan strikes a pose as she qualified for nationals with a toss of 43-2 at Saturday's Wartburg Invite.

"The entire day was a highlight," said Coach Marcus Newsom. "Our athletes competed well, the workers were great, the coaching staff must be noted and we thank God for a great day."

Wartburg won both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. The 4x100 team clocked 43.9 to finish ahead of Loras' 44.7. The Knights' 4x400 relay finished in 3.28.

Senior James Leemhuis won the high jump by clearing 6-2 and placed second to Grant Stoughton of Cornell in the 110m high hurdles in 16.2s.

Sophomore Michael Johnson and junior Mark Van Gorkom finished second and third respectively to Leemhuis in the high jump, each with a leap of six feet.

Van Gorkom also placed third with a time of 57.6 in the 400m hurdles behind Hildebrand of Luther and junior John Zehr who finished second in 57.8.

"We didn't stack up events," said Newsom. "We gave everyone the chance to step up, and they did."

Wartburg runners stole five of the top six places in the 1500m run. Junior Tom Zirbel overtook senior teammate Kendall Ricklefs with 500m left in the race to win in a time of 4.17.2.

Sophomore Justin Mellman placed second in the Steeplechase followed by sophomore Coby Carstens and senior A.J. Samuelson.

Freshman Nick Betts had a rough first experience in the Steeplechase. Betts fell to the track while going over the first barrier and landed on his head and shoulder. He got back up and finished the race in sixth place.

Sophomore Chris Salter won the 100m dash in 11.3 and senior Mike Peakin was third in 11.5.

Seniors Josh Wedermeier and Cory Cantrall finished second and third respectively in the long jump.

Sophomore Seth Robertson put the shot 12.53 meters for second place and freshman Jason Huegel flung the discus 40.72 meters for third place.

Sophomore Brad Hofer took the lead down the stretch to win the 800m in 2.01.

Freshmen Adam Sundall and Joe Hughes finished second and third respectively in the 5000m.

"Starting where they finished" is the motto the Wartburg Women's Track team went by at the Wartburg College Invite Saturday. The Knights out-raced their competition with 200 points. Next closest was Loras with 170.

After the first outdoor meet of the year, the Knights captured three provisional national qualifiers, senior Amy Sullivan and junior Melissa Stensland in the shot put and sophomore Susie Reinhardt in the 100m dash.

In the field events, Sullivan had a throw of 43-2 to take the win away from teammate Stensland who came in a close second with a put of 43-1 1/2.

Stensland also placed third in the discus with a toss of 36.51 meters.

Junior Keevan Schadle came away with a pair of thirds, jumping 16-1.75 in the long jump and 9.59 in the triple jump.

Junior Kelly Wenndt took first in the high jump with a leap of 4-6.

Reinhardt placed second in the 100m dash with a time of 12.35, and fellow teammate sophomore Quiana Norals placed third in 13.2.

The 200m dash had freshman Brandee Biershenck and Norals placing second and third respectively with times of 27.25 and 28.86 behind Loras' Candace Brown.

In the 400m run sophomore Brianne Schoonover won her first race of season with a time of 1:00.

Junior Abby Fliehler ripped up the track, winning the 800m in 2:28.7. Coming in third was teammate Amy Neal, a junior with a time of 2:30.

"The wind had a great effect on my strategy. Usually I want to get out but I ducked behind the other runners until the straightaway where I was able to use the wind for my advantage and take it in for the win," said Fliehler.

The 1500m had senior Erin Ries take on the UW-Parkside runners for a win in a time of 4:56.1.

Sophomore Erin VanZee ran away with the 3000m title in 10:35.25. Sophomore Stacy Ernst took third with 10:43.69.

The 400 hurtles had seniors Jeanette Olson and Sommer Baxton placing first and second with times of 1:08.31 and 1:09.07 respectively.

"The wind made it harder to run the backstretch, but I felt I had enough power to finish strong," said Baxton.

The 4x400 team blew the competition away in 4:07.5. This team consisted of Biershenck, Reinhardt, Baxton and Schoonover.

The men and women make their next move Saturday, April 1 at the Loras Invite in Dubuque.