Photo by Jackie Kirby
Posted: Mar 09, 2019
PITTSBURG, KAN. – The University of Mount Olive men's and women's track & field team saw Leah Hanle earn her second an All-American and the men's 4x400m relay team win its first-ever NCAA All-American on the final day of the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field National Championships Saturday night in Pittsburg, Kansas. Hanle and the 4x400m relay teams both broke schools records in their respective events.
MEET INFORMATION
Results
Location: Pittsburg, Kansas.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Event |
Name |
Time/Distance |
Event Finish |
All-American |
| 3000m | ||||
|
|
Leah Hanle | 9:23.76 | 3rd/20 | 1st Team |
| 4x400m | 3:10.23 | 4th/12 | 1st Team | |
| Arne Leppelsack | 48.34 | |||
|
|
Johnny Middlebrooks | 47.14 |
|
|
| Richard Fisher | 47.42 | |||
| Tedric Shannon | 47.08 |
RACE NOTABLES
- The 3000m was the first event on day two that saw a Trojan capture a first-team All-America with Leah Hanle's 9:23.64 3rd place finish. Hanle moved up to as high as first from the 300m-to-1200m marks before she fell down to second at the 1500m mark. Then the junior fell one final spot in the final 300m and crossed the line in third.
- She also broke the UMO school record and in the process shaved 10 seconds off her personal best in the event.
- The 4x400m relay team of Richard Fisher, Arne Leppelsack, Johnny Middlebrooks, and Tedric Shannon rounded out the day at the NCAA Division II National Championship with the school's first-ever and best finish of fourth earning the four Trojans First-Team All-Americans.
- Middlebrooks, Fisher, and Shannon all set lifetime best splits in their respective legs.
- The team also broke the school record in the process of becoming All-Americans.
COACHES COMMENTS
- "After watching the other two heats run, showing the fastest time of 3:10.80 for the other 8 teams, the Trojans knew they just needed to execute their race plane perfectly, and they'd be All Americans, and top-4 in the nation. With all the pressure upon them, these young men did just that, running their fastest 400m splits of the season, and once again breaking their own school record," said Head Coach Matt Van Lierop on the performance of the men's relay team.
- "Leah was on a mission, and she executed it perfectly. She entered the competition 3rd in the 5K and 5th in the 3K, but did not want to go home with that 5th spot. Her first night was completed as expected, with her highest indoor finish as well as a new indoor 5K PR and school record. Day two was the challenge. Can she defeat her inner demons that have thwarted her in the 3K the last two years. Not only did she rise above them, she matched her indoor best place with another 3rd, and eclipsed her school record by 10 seconds. The best part, is that she did it just 24 hours after her 5K, running faster than her fitness level predicted, on tired legs, as if she was fresh. This is the strongest Leah has ever been, and we're excited to see what's in store for the next season," concluded van Lierop on Hanle's performance at the National Championship.
UP NEXT
- Mount Olive's indoor season comes to a close with Leah Hanle securing to First-Team All-Americans (3000m/5000m) and the 4x400m relay team also grabbing First-Team All-American honors at the championships. The outdoor season has already begun and UMO will next be in action March 14-15 at the Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C.