Schmidt brings home two golds

Fifteen earn All-American honors, Women take fifth

Laurie Wood
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 6

Senior Rochelle Schmidt won the long jump and triple jump to help the Doane women finish fifth at the 2004 NAIA national track meet.
The Doane men ended up in thirty-first place, scoring 7 total points.
Schmidt was Doane’s standout, winning the triple jump with a jump of 40 feet 6 inches beating the second place finisher by more than a foot.
She also won the long jump, after falling one place short in 2003. She scored 20 of the Tiger’s 48 points.
Schmidt has been completing at the national level for her entire college career. Bringing home two gold medals was a long-awaited achievement for her.
“My teammates and coaches helped me get through the season with lots of encouragement and support,” Schmidt said. “It (winning) is a feeling that I can’t explain, but it felt really good because it proves that you are the best in the nation.”
The Doane Tigers had 10 women, including Schmidt, finish in the top six in their event, making them All-Americans.
Five Doane men earned All-American status. Sophomore Walker Thomas finished fourth in the pole vault.
The 1,600-meter relay team also placed fourth. Those running on the relay team included freshman Joel Bacon, sophomore Jeff Luebbe, senior Jonathan Pingel, and senior Dusty Krusemark.
Both the men’s and women’s track teams are only half done with their 2004 season. Their focus now turns to the outdoor season, mainly the outdoor conference track meet.
“Nationals is just another meet to finish off the season,” Schmidt said. “Conference is always our number one priority.”
The outdoor track season begins at the end of March, with the first track meet scheduled for March 26 and 27.

All-Americans
Women
Senior Rochelle Schmidt- long and triple jump, first
Senior Allisha Melroy- weight throw, third
Freshman Katie Kosmos- pentathlon, third
Sophomore Rhonda Egger- long jump, fourth
Senior Mary Hagemann- shot put, fourth
Senior Brittany Price- 5,000-meter run, fifth
Senior Rachel Windhorst- pole vault, fifth
Senior Cassie Baker- pentathlon, fifth
Junior Emily Durran- weight throw, sixth
Freshman Lindsey Ribbens- 55-meter hurdles, sixth

Men
Sophomore Walker Thomas- pole vault, fourth
Freshman Joel Bacon- 1,600-meter relay, fourth
Sophomore Jeff Luebbe- 1,600-meter relay, fourth
Senior Jonathon Pingel- 1,600-meter relay, fourth
Senior Dusty Krusemark- 1,600-meter relay, fourth