Roman Cress, Tish Dusich make NCAA track finals

March 8, 2002
Two of the three St. Thomas entries reached Saturday's finals in the first day of the two-day NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

Tommie junior Roman Cress qualified sixth overall and second in his heat of the 55 dash with a prelim time of 6.43. UST junior Tish Dusich advanced in the 800 meters as she was third in her heat and fifth overall in 2:16.73. St. Olaf's Megan Daymont had the fastest time in the 800 in 2:16.04.

Both Cress and Dusich will compete with seven other finalists of their events Saturday -- the top six finishers earn points and will claim All-American honors.

The other Tommie entrant, junior Craig Benson, failed to advance in the 55 hurdles. Benson clocked 7.72.

Three MIAC men's teams scored points Friday:
--St. Olaf's Cory Dingels was second in the long jump (23-6 3-4) for eight team points, putting the Oles in a tie for eighth place. Dingels also placed 10th in the high jump (6-0).
---Gustavus got five team points and is tied for 17th, thanks to Luke Speltz' fourth-place finish in the weight throw (58-10 3-4). Teammate Jesse Harvey was 12th in the same event (51-4 1-2), and Gustie Jerry Washington failed to advance in the 55 dash (6.48).
---Hamline's distance-medley relay team of Jason Altman, Mike Baker, Kevin Drake and Tom Kreger placed fifth (10:02.59) to earn four points and put the Pipers in a tie for 20th. Piper high jumper Will Sallee was 12th in 6-6.

On the women's side, Gustavus and St. Mary's each has one Saturday entrant -- the Gusties have Jackie Luehmann in the women's shot put, and St. Mary's has Ashley Dingels in the high jump.

Besides Daymont, St. Olaf's other women's entrant on Friday, Rebecca Peterson, failed to advance in the 55 hurdles (8.60).

Men's Team Leaders/thru 1st of 2 days
1. UW-LaCrosse 22; 2. Wheaton (Mass.) 16; 3. Wilmington 14; 4. (tie) UW-Stevens Point, Allegheny, Bates, Haversford 10. MIAC teams--8. (tie) St. Olaf 8; 17. (tie) Gustavus 5; 20 (tie) Hamline 4.

Women's Team Leaders/thru 1st of 2 days
1. UW-LaCrosse 15.5; 2. Wheaton (Mass.) 13.5; 3. MIT 13; 4. UW-Oshkosh 12; 5. Williams 11.

see link to meet results here