May 25, 2007 - Geneva College
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May 25, 2007

Picture of May 25, 2007

May 25, 2007

CONTACT: Van Zanic

Sports Information Director

(724) 847-6886

Disappointing Day One at NAIA Track Nationals

Fresno, CA - A pair of Geneva hopefuls saw their season come to an end at the NAIA track and field nationals with disappointing results. The NAIA national meet, hosted by Fresno Pacific University, began on Thursday with Geneva′s Tiffany Bear and Susan Fletcher taking center stage in the javelin and 3000 meter steeplechase respectively. Both athletes were the subject of fantastic stories this spring with Bear shattering Geneva′s school record in the javelin and Fletcher qualifying for the steeplechase in just her second career race.

On Thursday, the pair finished their season with disappointing results. Bear finished 14th in a field of 24 with a distance of 128-03. Bear′s school record distance of 141-0 would have been good enough for fifth place.

In the 3000 meter steeplechase, Fletcher finished next to last in a field of 19 racers with a time of 12:13.18. While Bear did finish fifth out of eight athletes in her flight, the final distance was only good enough for 14th. Meanwhile, Fletcher was 10th in her heat and came in 18th overall. Hoping to advance as one of the top 14 for Saturday′s final race, Fletcher was unable to reach the final qualifying time of 11:43.63.

Sara Morrison steps on to the national stage for the first time on Friday as Geneva′s lone competitor in the race/walk event. On Saturday, the Golden Tornadoes will send four athletes to the start line of the marathon. For the men, John Perkins and Andrew Foxenberger will represent Geneva. The women will feature Beth Bartolomeo and Dee Koutsourais in what will be the final day for Geneva athletics as a member of the NAIA.

Geneva will begin play in NCAA Division III and the Presidents′ Athletic Conference in the fall.

May 25, 2007