| March 5, 2005 - NAIA National Indoor Championship - All-America honors for Friesen
Johnson City, Tenn - Yesterday Freshman Natalie Friesen broke her own FPU record in the long jump, but came up a three-quarters of an inch short of sixth place and the All-America recognition that comes with it.
Today was different. The freshman from Reedley again broke a Sunbirds record, but today finished fifth in the triple jump to earn FPU's only All-America honor of the three-day championship.
Friesen soared 38' 3.50", three inches ahead of Sarah Ensslen of Cedarville, Ohio (38-00), and three-quarters of an inch behind Kayla Pietzyk of Doane, Nebraska (38-04.25).
On Friday, Friesen extended her FPU record in the long jump to 18' 04.25", only to finish seventh just three-quarters of and inch behind Alissa Andrus of Jamestown, North Dakota (18-05.00).
Elizabeth Watson finished 20th in the shot put with a mark of 39' 4". It was four feet short of her season best mark of 43' 04".
March 4, 2005 - NAIA National Indoor Championship - Friesen and Cruz 7th, Ordaz 21st
March 3, 2005 - NAIA National Indoor Championship - 4x800 team fails to advance
Johnson City, Tenn - FPU's 4x800 meter relay team was well off their season-best mark and failed to advance to tomorrow's final. The team of Melissa Dowlet, Brittany Phillips, Athenia Hetherington, and Vanessa MacKenzie posted a disappointing 9:54.79 to finish last in the field of 13 teams. They had qualified for the championship with a 9:44.85 on February 12.
Tomorrow Natalie Friesen will compete in the long jump while Zenaida Cruz will challenge in the 20 pound weight throw. FPU's only male competitor at the championship, Mario Ordaz, will compete in the 35 pound wight throw.
March 2, 2005 - Eight to compete at NAIA National Indoor Championship
The FPU presence at the NAIA National Indoor Track & Field Championship will consist of eight athletes. Seven women and one man will begin competition tomorrow in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Thrower Zenaida Cruz leads the FPU contingent. Cruz, a junior from Reedley (Reedley HS) , ranked third among all qualifiers in the 20 pound weight throw.
Natalie Friesen will compete in the long and triple jumps. Friesen, a freshman and also from Reedley (Immanuel HS), has already broken FPU records in both the long and triple jumps.
Sophomore thrower Elizabeth Watson (Tehachapi, Tehachapi HS) will compete in the shot put, while Melissa Dowlet, Athenia Hetherington, Vanessa MacKenzie and Brittany Phillips, will compete in the 4x800 meters relay. The quartet are the first FPU women's relay team to compete at a NAIA National Championship.
Mario Ordaz, a junior thrower from Fresno (Edison HS) is the lone man to make the trip. Ordaz will compete in the 35 pound weight throw.
The championship, which continues through Saturday, will take place in the Memorial Center “Mini Dome” in Johnson City.
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