Geoducks Have Outstanding Conference Championships Meet

Emily Uhlig (left) on the podium following her Steeplechase 2nd placing

May 10, 2008

GRESHAM, Ore. - Among combined women's and men's team members, eight school records were broken, ten of them scored points, many had personal bests and two had top-three placings at the 2008 Cascade Conference Track and Field Championships.

The conference has become deeper with numbers and more competitive each year. Geoducks, who have prepped well all season for this day, answered the challenge and represented the college proudly.

Day two of the championships opened well for Evergreen. In the 3000 meter steeplechase Emily Uhlig bettered her '07 3rd place finish to place 2nd in 11:42.46. It was her second best time and again under the NAIA "B" qualifying standard.

In the middle distance races, Ana Casillas was just a second shy of her personal best in the 1500 meters placing 11th. Liam Rockwell ran a smart tactical race to win the first section of the men's 1500 in a big personal best of 4:13.99 to place 14th. Miguel Pineda finished 8th in the fastest heat with a 4:03.27 personal best. Pineda broke the previous school record of 4:05.92.

Quarter milers Lindsey Farah and Ryan Lara placed 5th and 9th in their respective women's and men's 400 meter races. Farah's time of 1:00.71 is a personal best and breaks her previous school record by just over a second. Lara completed the oval in 51:15.

Saturday was as bizarre as it was successful for ESC. The drama began with the women's 800 meters that had Farah in the fast heat. After what appeared to be a meet record for EOU's Marcella Bosch, fifth place, NAIA qualifying time, personal best and school record for Farah, it was determined that meet officials had started all the women's 800 races on the wrong stagger. The result was each lane out from lane one running progressively shorter races.

After many tears, coaches meetings and protests, the jury decided to have a re-run at 4:00 PM. The 40 minute time frame to prepare for this race came as a shock to many. Competitors had participated in other events following the 800 meters (Farah in the 200 meters) and were tired from their efforts. However, eight (of 14 entrants) brave women made the best of an difficult situation and gave it ago. Farah, being the competitor she is, left nothing to chance and led the race for the first 300 meters. By the bell lap one could tell she was spent and shortly after collapsed with a muscle pull. Bosch again won the race as the remainder of the field came home in less than satisfactory times.

For Farah, she lost her original 5th placing, dropping the women's team two places in the team standings. The only saving grace was that the following day coaches determined what a projected finish time would be based on the distance and meters covered per second. The results were declared valid (but would not change the official race results) and Farah has a personal best and new school record of 2:19.78.

The conversion issue, which went all the way to the NAIA offices, determined that the top four individuals in the original race were to be given the "B" standard. This allows their coaches to use a right of membership entry if they choose.

With the starting error caught after the women's race, the men's 800 went off relatively smooth. While perhaps too many were entered in the fast heat of the 800, making for a crowded, physical and slower race, ESC's Pineda managed a solid 8th place finish. Rockwell, who was in the 2nd of 3 heats, earned a personal best of 2:00.26 placing 16th.

In the sprints, Farah fired out a personal best / school record 27.11 200 meter effort for 8th place. Alex Combs-Bachmann, Jason Shoemaker and Lara placed 20th, 18th and 5th respectively in the men's 200 meters. Ryan's time of 23.09 breaks his own school record and P.B.

Emily Uhlig, Ana Casillas and Diann Leo competed in the 5000 meters, with Uhlig and Casillas earning scoring places of 6th and 7th respectively in the competitive race. Casillas ran two seconds under her personal best and Uhlig shattered the school record, running 18:48.30 and cracking the 19:00 barrier for her first time.

Evergreen had five competitors in the men's 5000 meters. Brian Rakestraw was the first Geoduck across the line in 16:03.29 in 16th place. Rakestraw ran strong early, but his effort in the 10k on Thursday night began to show it's effects.

The final event of the meet, the 4 x 400 relay, featured a new lineup for the men's team. Shoemaker, in his first go at the distance since high school, had a strong lead leg of 53.67 before passing the baton to Lara. Lara blasted a 50.95 to give ESC a solid lead in their heat. Rockwell covered his lap in 54.28 and anchor Pineda motored to a 51.95. The team placed 5th overall in a school record of 3:31.10.

Next up for ESC thinclads is the NAIA National Track and Field Championships in St. Louis, MO. Evergreen is sending two, Uhlig (Steeplechase) and Rakestraw (10,000 meters) and are the first Geoducks to ever represent ESC in track events at nationals.

Evergreen's top 8 placers:

Women

200 meters - Lindsey Farah. 8th 27:11 *School record
400 meters - Lindsey Farah 5th 1:00.71 *School record
800 meters - Lindsey Farah. 2:19.78 *School record. No place
3000 meter steeplechase - Emily Uhlig 2nd 11:42.46
5000 meters - Emily Uhlig 6th 18:48.30 * School record;
Ana Casillas (So. Bellarmine Prep) 7th 19:09.76

Men

200 meters - Ryan Lara (Fr. Franklin Pierce) 5th 23:09 * School record
800 meters - Miguel Pineda (Sr. Tumwater) 8th 1:57.35
1500 meters - Pineda 8th 4:03.27 *School record
10,000 meters - Brian Rakestraw. 3rd 31:54.54 *School record (under previous championships record) NAIA Qualifying Mark.
4 x 400 meter relay - 5th 3:31.10 *School record

Full Results