Published: June 27, 2009 11:13 pm         

Metro roundup: Fife makes top-10 finish in USA Championships

Eugene, Ore. — Indiana State graduate Jordan Fife placed ninth Saturday in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USA Track and Field Championships at Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Fife ran a time of 8 minutes, 48.16 seconds representing Team Indiana Elite. The winner, Josh McAdams, ran 8:29.91.

Indiana State junior Lauren Martin placed 13th overall in the women’s triple jump Friday, just missing a trip to the finals with a leap of 42-feet, 6-inches.

Martin was the second highest placing collegian in the field, topped by Kansas State’s Tiara Walpoo (43-1 3/4), which tied for ninth.

“[Martin] was really disappointed in not making the finals,” John Gartland, Indiana State women’s track and field coach, said. “But she did finish as one of the top nine women triple jumpers in the United States and that is quite an accomplishment.”

Martin was one of two current Sycamores in competition on Friday as freshman Sarah Snapp also competed in the USA Junior Outdoor Championships in the 100 meter hurdles, finishing 15th overall with a time of 14.75.

“It was not one of her best races but she competed against a very outstanding field and the experience will serve her well as she continues to compete for Indiana State,” Gartland said.

Also in competition were former Sycamores Fife and Aubrey Herring.

Fife, the ISU record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, placed 12th in the preliminaries Thursday.

Herring, the ISU record holder in the 110-meter high hurdles, placed 12th in the first round with a time of 13.45.

Kylie Hutson will compete in the women’s pole vault and sophomore Major Clay in the men’s high jump, both today.

Baseball

• Post 346 juniors advance — At Hammond, the Wayne Newton Post 346 junior team advanced to today’s championship round of the Hammond Great Lakes Classic with two wins on Friday.

Post 346 had a bye on Saturday.



Friday

Kokomo Post 6 000 020 0 — 2 5 1

W.Newton Post 346 000 100 2 — 3 2 3

Weir (L), Salinas; Maxwell (W) and Davis.

Highlights — For Post 346, Ryan Bose and Matt Pilipovich had singles. For Post 6, Weir had 15 strikeouts.



W.Newton Post 346 054 34 — 16 8 2

Anheuser Busch Post 299 220 00 — 4 6 4

Sexton, Bose (2) (W) and Davis, Clements (5).

Highlights — For Post 346, Jimmy Maxwell was 2 for 3; Travis Rubey was 2 for 2; Matt Pilipovich was 1 for 2 with 3 RBI’s.

Next — Wayne Newton Post 346 Junior Legion competes in the championship round today.

Auto racing

• Niflis wins first — At Bloomington, Kenny Niflis won the 21st running of the Sheldon Kinser Memorial for sprint cars Friday at Bloomington Speedway.

Niflis won the B-main and started 16th in the main. He took the lead on the 25th lap and had a nice cushion at the end in winning his first sprint car event.



Friday’s results

Sheldon Kinser Memorial

Fast qualifier — Jeff Bland Jr.

Heat winners — Jon Stanbrough, Chad Boat, Casey Shuman, Robert Ballou, Bryan Clauson, Mark Perry III (C-main), Kenny Niflis (B-main)

Feature — Niflis, Brady Short, Stanbrough, Clauson, Shuman, Dickie Gaines, Shane Cottle, Eric Smith, Chad Boat, Hunter Schuerenberg, Bland, Brent Beauchamp, Ballou, Casey Riggs, Kevin Thomas

UMP modifieds

Heat winners — Matt Bex, Clint Demoss, Jared Bailey, Derek Groomer (B-main)

Feature — Bex, Demoss, Kent Robinson, Ralph Groomer, Bailey, Derek Groomer, Josh Eads, Brad Barrow, Richie Lex, Earl Plessinger

Super stocks

Heat winners — Brad Cummings, Troy Clark

Feature — Steve Peeden, Cummings, Lee Hobbs, Clayton Perry, Clark, Winston Howe, Greg Amick, Jack Frye, Steve Hollars, Chris Hillman



• Santos wins again — At Richmond, Va., Bobby Santos III won his third U. S. Auto Club feature race in less than two winnings, taking Friday’s feature for sprint cars at Richmond International Raceway.

Levi Jones was eighth and regained first in the sprint totals, leading Dave Darland by two points going into Thursday’s race at Winchester.



Fast qualifier — Brad Sweet

Feature — Bobby Santos III, Darren Hagen, Sweet, Cole Whitt, Jerry Coons Jr., Bobby East, Tracy Hines, Levi Jones, Dave Darland, Henry Clarke

USAC sprint point leaders — Jones 702, Darland 700, Jesse Hockett 647, Coons 636, Whitt 630



• Tyler posts win — At Richmond, Brian Tyler won a U. S. Auto Club Silver Crown race Saturday prior to IndyCar Series action at Richmond International Raceway.



Bud Kaeding was ninth and will take a 21-point lead over Tracy Hines into a race at Indy prior to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.



Saturday’s results

Fast qualifier — Bobby East

Feature — Brian Tyler, East, Cameron Dodson, Ryan Smith, A. J. Fike, Chet Fillip, Jacob Wilson, Tracy Hines, Bud Kaeding, Jay Drake, Bobby Santos III, Mike Lichty, Zach Daum, Levi Jones, Jerry Coons Jr.

USAC SC point leaders — Kaeding 147, Hines 126, Tyler 120. Fike 113, Daum 100