Pierson ties for 12th place at Regionals

May 31, 2008

Complete NCAA West Regional Results

Pocatello, ID---The women's team has had an excellent season and continued to give top-notch performances at the NCAA West Regional competition hosted by Cal State Northridge. Three Bengals achieved top-ten performances for Idaho State school history. Idaho State finishes Regional competition with two points for the school.

"Everyone did pretty well", said head men's and women's track and field coach Dave Nielsen. "Lois had a great mark."

Senior Lois Ricardi had a stand-out run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Matador track and field complex. Ricardi ran a time of 10:35.00 for a 12th place finish. Her excellent time gave her the second best performance in school history, shattering her previous best for her career by 5.64 seconds. Her previous best was the 10:40.64 time that first qualified her to compete at Regionals. Ricardi now owns seven of the ten All-Time Top-Ten Performances in school history.

Senior Mandi Janowitz and Merkley both competed in the javelin throw. Though Merkley qualified for three different events, the javelin throw, the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump, Head coach Nielsen had Merkely compete only in the javelin throw to better prepare her for nationals where she will compete in the heptathlon. Merkley threw a distance of 153-02 to capture seventh place, becoming the only Bengal to gain points for Idaho State to put them on the board with two points. Her performance ties Merkley with the sixth best performance in school history. Janowitz threw a distance of 131-09 in the javelin for a 23rd place finish.

In the 1,500-meter run junior Gemma Maini ran a time of 4:32.68 for a 13th place finish. Maini's run allowed her to make her mark on the history books of Idaho State with the eighth best performance in school history.

Sophomore Sam Pierson vaulted a height of 16-07.25 to tie with Arizona's Brenden Corrigan. However, Pierson may not be done with his season yet. Though the top five places automatically get a bid to nationals, positions six through twelve will be thrown into a pool and based on the descending order list may be sent to nationals. The descending order list is based on the season-best marks of athletes. Due to Pierson's 17-02.75 jump at the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship he is likely to have the best chance of going to nationals. Merkley, Ricardi, Jones and Pierson will all be thrown into the pool for consideration to fill one of the 544 spots at Nationals.

Pierson will know his chances of going to nationals by Tuesday, June 3rd. In the meantime Cassie Merkley is the only Bengal that will compete at Nationals June 11-14th in Des Moines, Iowa.

Note: Arizona State swept the NCAA West Regional competition for the men's and women's team rankings. The men captured 74 points while the women achieved an impressive 114 points.