April 28, 2008
Dunkle, Thomas Finish 3rd-4th at MIAA Multi-Events
Shaffer Places Fourth in Heptathlon Competition
HAYS,
Kan. -- Pittsburg State University seniors
Jeremy Dunkle and Nathan Thomas placed third and fourth, respectively,
in the decathlon Monday (Apr. 28) after day two action of the 2008 Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association Multi-Events competition to garner
All-MIAA honors. In the heptathlon, PSU junior Ali Shaffer placed fourth
overall.
Dunkle and Thomas both compiled personal-best
point totals -- with Dunkle coming in at 6,526 points and Thomas right
behind at 6,514 points. Both athletes met the provisional qualifying standard
toward the NCAA Division II National Championships.
AJ Roth of the University of Central Missouri
won the decathlon with 6,820 points, while Missouri Southern State University’s
Phillip Horn finished second with 6,542 points to edge Dunkle and Thomas
for second place.
Eric Atkinson finished ninth among 11 competitors
in the decathlon with 5,494 points.
“Jeremy had a very steady two days of competition,”
PSU head coach Russ Jewett said. “He had about a 25-second PR in
the 1,500 meters, which is a very difficult event to wrap up the decathlon.
He needed to beat Phillip Horn of Southern by 15 seconds in the race and
he almost pulled it off. It was an awesome effort on his part.
“Nate also had a great weekend. He was very
steady. Getting 11 points from our guys gives us a great start to the
MIAA Championships.”
Central Missouri grabbed the early lead in the
decathlon competition, edging the Gorillas, 13-11. In addition to Roth’s
victory, Ross Smithey finished seventh and Josh O’Brien placed eighth
to secure three more points for the Mules.
Shaffer scored 4,270 points in the heptathlon
to shoot up to fourth place Monday, after concluding day one action in
sixth place. Freshman Michelle Mitchell, in her first-ever heptathlon
performance, finished 11th among 14 competitors with 3,834 points.
Anne Carlson of Central Missouri won the heptathlon
with 4,742 points. The Jennies scored 23 points in the competition.
“Ali did a great job with her fourth place
showing,” Jewett said. “She fought and battled her way through
the competition, and she finished strong with a great 800 meter performance.
“Michelle also did a great job, especially having
never competed in the heptathlon before. She’s just a good all-around
athlete and it was a good experience for her, and her team will appreciate
her effort.”
The 2008 MIAA Championships continue Saturday
and Sunday (May 3-4) with the venue shifting to the campus of Northwest
Missouri State University.