TWO MORE TRACK AND FIELD BLUEJAYS QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
MEET RESULTS
           
      Elmhurst, Ill - April 30, 2001 - TRunners Jason Malmassari (Sycamore-H.S.) and Kathleen Brice (Elk Grove-H.S.) both qualified provisionally for the NCAA Division III National Tournament at the Illinois Wesleyan Keck Ecumenical last Saturday (April 28). In doing so, they helped lead both the Elmhurst College men's and women's teams to third-place finishes.
      The Bluejay track and field team will participate in the CCIW Championships at North Park University this Friday and Saturday (May 4-5).
      ILLINOIS WESLEYAN KECK ECUMENICAL - Both the Bluejay men and women finished third at the Illinois Wesleyan Keck Ecumenical last Saturday (April 28). Malmassari provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, which he won in a school-record time of 9:29.37. "This is extremely exciting," Head Men's Coach Bob Schultz said. "No long distance runner from Elmhurst has ever qualified for nationals. Jason deserves this because he's so hard-working."
      Brice, who was in second place until the final 300 meters of her event, surged ahead and provisionally qualified for nationals with a first-place time of 10:14.84 in the 3,000 meters. "This is outstanding," Head Women's Coach Erik Guta said. "It was totally unexpected, especially for a freshman."
      Elmhurst College now has two high jumpers guaranteed a berth at the national tournament, senior Nelson Grant (Homewood--Homewood-Flossmoor) and freshman John Hartmann (Island Lake-Wauconda). On the strength of last weekend's success, provisional qualifiers Brice and Malmassari are now on a "wait list" to join their teammates, looking for their likely opportunity on a national stage.
      Other Bluejays who placed in their events last weekend included freshman John McMillian (Miami, Fla.-South Miami), who won the 100 meters, and senior Jim Akita (Elmhurst-York), who finished first in the 1,500 meters.
      On the women's side, Erin Brice won the 1,500 meters and placed fourth in a lifetime personal record time in the 3,000 meters, just behind sophomore Adrien Ricci (Sandwich-H.S.), who placed third. In addition, junior Emily Phillips (Big Rock-Sandwich) placed second in the pole vault as did sophomore Kelly Van Guilder (Plymouth, Minn.-Wayzata) in the 100-meter dash.