Published: July 04, 2008 08:59 pm            

ISU’s Hutson finishes tied for 13th at Olympic trials

Eugene, Ore. — Indiana State sophomore pole vaulter Kylie Hutson held her own against the country’s best, finishing in a tie for 13th place at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at historic Hayward Field on Thursday.

The Terre Haute native was placed into the first preliminary flight against the best vaulters in the country, including Olympic Trials record holder Stacy Dragila and American record holder Jenn Stuczynski.

To make things more difficult, Hutson needed to clear 13-feet, 5.25 inches (4.10 meters) to move on to the next jump, a mark higher than any first height she has ever had to clear. But her preparation over the last two weeks paid off and Hutson cleared the initial height on her second try.

However, the four-time Missouri Valley Conference champion and four-time NCAA Championship qualifier struggled at the next height of 13-9.25 (4.20 meters), failing to reach the finals.

“It was an absolute honor to compete here with athletes like Stacy and Jenn, who are the best this country if not the world” said Hutson. “The atmosphere here is completely indescribable because everybody here has such a love for track and field.

“I was a bit nervous at the start because I did not have the best warm-up. But, once I cleared that first height I relaxed a bit and just enjoyed the experience. I am a bit disappointed about coming up just short of the finals, but just being here has motivated me to continue to work harder so I can come back here to compete in 2012.”

Also competing, former Indiana State All-American Jordan Fife was also in action at the trials on Thursday. Fife, who now runs professionally for Team Indiana Elite, finished 22nd overall in the semifinals of the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:00.59.

Baseball

• Post 346 wins — At Bowling Green, Ky., Wayne Newton Post 346 overcome its tournament hitting woes for three late runs and a 3-2 victory Friday over Lyon County, Ky., in the “Fireworks on the Hill” American Legion tournament.

Michael Eberle’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh was the game-winner for the Terre Haute team and rewarded a complete-game pitching effort by Justin Ferrell.

Lyon County scored twice in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie, but Post 346 tied the score in the bottom of the inning.

Rains later Friday washed out the rest of the day’s play and rearranged the rest of the tournament schedule. Teams have now been seeded after just two games instead of three, and single-elimination play begins at 9 a.m. today when Wayne Newton plays Oldham County, Ky.

A win in that game would move Post 346 to a 2 p.m. game against Murfreesboro, Tenn., and a win in that game would allow the Terre Haute team to play again on Sunday.



Lyon County 000 020 0 — 2 7 3

Wayne Newton Post 346 000 020 1 — 3 4 2

Howton, Nichell (3), McMican (6) and Mullins; Ferrell (W, 4-0) and Meggs. L — McMican.

Highlights — For Post 346, Michael Eberle had a single and game-winning RBI, Koby Kraemer had a single and RBI and Jacob Hayes and A.J. Reed had singles.

Next game — Wayne Newton Post 346 (15-9) plays at 9 a.m. today against Oldham County, Ky., in an elimination game. If Post 346 wins, it would play Murfreesboro, Tenn., at 2 p.m.

Golf

• Area golfers excel — At Plymouth, Kade Baker of Brazil tied for 18th place (boys 17), Kaelyn Lingenfelter of Rochester, daughter of former Terre Haute South golfer Lyle Lingenfelter, placed fourth (girls 15) while Nathan Pirtle of Sullivan was third (boys 12) in the Indiana Golf Foundation Age Group Championships which concluded on Thursday.

Baker fired a 81-79-160, Lingenfelter a 83-87-170 and Pirtle a 79-79-158.

        

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