Index of Sports Press Releases

Mar. 8, 2008

Thompson Finishes in Top 15
The Daily Republic

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The Dakota Wesleyan University track and field team has two representatives at the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend in Johnson City, Tenn., and both opened competition on Friday.

Freshman Frank Thompson finished 13th in the men’s high jump with a jump of 6-4.75, and Brittany Ulmer finished 23rd in the women’s long jump with a jump of 15-11.5.

The men’s long jump was won by Montagious Brown of Shorter College, who had a jump of 6-10.75. Thompson’s 14th place jump was slightly better than his jump of 6-4 that earned him a fourth-place finish several weeks ago at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships, but was far from his best jumps of the season.

“It was his first national meet,” DWU head coach Pat Belling said. “He was a little nervous, he had some jitters, and he could have jumped a lot better. He knows that, and we sat down and had a long talk. He’s a little disappointed because he knows he could have jumped better.

Thompson’s best jumps of the season are 6-8, and Belling said he’s also had some good attempts at 6-10. However, Thompson is only a freshman, so he has several strong years yet to come.

“He’s only a freshman, so he’ll have a lot more to come,” Belling said. “Hopefully next time he can jump a little better.”

Ulmer missed the GPAC Championships with a severe hamstring pull, but was able to compete Friday in the long jump. However, Belling said she was far from 100 percent, and if it weren’t the national meet, she never would have competed.

“She is frustrated,” Belling said. “I feel bad for her, because I know she is an 18-foot long jumper and a 37-foot triple-jumper. When she’s going 16 feet, it’s hard on an athlete mentally when they know they can be jumping farther and they just cant because of reasons they can’t control.”

Ulmer was supposed to compete again today in the women’s triple jump, but Belling said she won’t compete due to the injury.

“We’re going to take her home, let her rest for a few weeks and get her headed,” Belling said. “Hopefully she can come back strong and have a good outdoor season.”