Superbowl Sunday had most of America gathered around their television sets to hopefully catch a glimpse of some of the most exciting athletics to happen this winter. Meanwhile, us track fans know that indoor track is the most exciting sport in the winter. Besides Bernard Lagat’s record at Boston indoor games, there was plenty of crazy fast running going down. DII athletes were right in the mix. I’ll highlight the automatic qualifying marks and some other fast times. As usual, I encourage you to add anything I have missed and let us try to avoid sounding like the Letsrun boards when it comes to Galen Rupp and breathe right strips.

NCAA DII Team Challenge- Lincoln (MO) took the title on both the men’s and women’s side. The men won with 94 points followed by Grand Valley State with 85.5 points and Saginaw Valley (65.5).  The women took the title with 167 points followed by Grand Valley State with 102.5 points and Ashland with 78.5 points.  

Saginaw Valley’s Tony Filipeck was only 0.59 milliseconds off the automatic qualifying time in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:52.59. Ashland’s Mike Jeffery automatically qualified in the weight throw with a mark of 64’3.75”

Lincoln’s women sprinters had a good showing. Semoy Hackett took first in her final heat with an automatic qualifying time of 7.39 followed by her teammate Janika Martell with an auto mark of 7.44. Findlay’s Raven Clay won the 60 meter hurdles with an automatic qualifying time of 8.43.  Lincoln’s Racquel Anderson automatically qualified in the long jump with a mark of 5.91 meters. Ashland’s Kelly Ash won the shot-put with an automatic mark of 14.49 meters.

New Balance Collegiate Invitational –Abilene Christian’s Amos Sang turned in the second fastest performance in the 5k on the performance list this winter with a time of 14:18.08. His teammate Andrew McDowell automatically qualified in the 60 meter hurdles with the time of 7.95.

Queen’s Tanya Zeferjahn automatically qualified in the mile with a time of 4:53.33. Shippensburg’s Neely Spence won the 5k championship run with an automatic qualifying time of 16:13.01. Queen’s Meagan Nedlo (16:54.67) and Shippensburg’s Mary Dell also provisionally qualified in the 5k.

Yale Giegengack Invitational- New Haven’s Shannon Gange automatically qualified in the women’s 200 meter with a time of 24.27. Umass Lowell’s Jacqui Barrett automatically qualified in the shot put with a mark of 14.77m

Ted Nelson Classic- Minnesota State-Mankato’s Denise Mokayo automatically qualified in the mile with a time of 4:06.61.

Question of the week (yeah took out the video, it was awkward) ? Altitude will it make a difference at Nationals? Is it fair?