Senior earns shot at IAFF

Last weekend at the NCAA Championships, senior Rose Richmond failed to make the long jump final after claiming second place at the Indoor Championships. Her contribution to the IU 4x100 relay team helped the squad net a fifth-place finish, but this could only mildly assuage her pain. Luckily, she had a chance at redemption at this weekend's USA Track and Field Championships, where the best collegians mixed it up with the nation's professionals. \nShe made good on her proverbial second chance, leaping out to 21-feet-6 1/4-inches, half an inch from her own school record -- and good enough for second place behind Nike's Grace Upshaw. To earn a trip to the IAAF World Championships in Paris in late August, Richmond will have to meet the World Championships 'B' standard. She will attempt to do so in several meets leading up to the World Championships. \nIn other women's action, senior Danielle Carruthers was the only collegian to make the final of the 100-meter hurdles. She finished sixth in 12.84 in, unquestionably, the strongest women's event for the U.S. She figures to continue competing into the summer as well. \nFreshman Kelly Siefker finished second in the 2,000-meter junior women's steeplechase in 6:46, four seconds behind the leader. Depending on whether the steeplechase is scheduled to be contested at the world junior level, Siefker may have a chance at the IAAF World Youth Championships, to take place in Sherbrooke, Canada. The last IU athlete to place well in the junior steeplechase was senior Jeff Zeha, who won the junior men's steeplechase in 2000.\nAmong those that didn't fair so well, sophomore Ara Towns qualified to the semis in the 100-meter event, but missed the cut for the finals. Slated to run the 100- and 200-meter events, senior Rachelle Boone failed to advance past the first round in the 100-meter event and did not start in the 200-meter event. Freshman Jessica Gall did not finish the junior women's 5,000-meter event. Junior triple jumper Lauren Chestnut suffered from two unfortunate foul jumps and finished 19th. \n On the men's side, sophomore triple jumper Aarik Wilson put forth the best result with a leap of 16.65, which exorcised his NCAA demons as well. His mark placed him fourth, just out of qualifying for Paris; however, the result is a good sign for the future. Twin brothers, freshman Sean Jefferson and sophomore John Jefferson, competed in the 1,500-meter event. John missed qualifying for the final by less than a second. Sean benefited from a faster second heat and qualified to the final, where he finished 11th in a tactical 3:48.19; Nike's Jason Lunn won the race just four seconds faster. \nIn other men's action, senior Adam Judge finished 14th in the hammer throw. Junior steeplechaser Tom Burns continued his steady performance with an 8:52; this unfortunately left him short of the final cut. \nSeveral former Hoosiers were also in action. 1999 graduate Tom Chorny finished a surprising fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, an event he won in 2001. Former Hoosier distance great Bob Kennedy finished sixth in the 5,000-meter event, one in which he is a multiple USA Champion and holds the American record. His 13:43 fell short of Tim Broe's winning 13:35 and also Kennedy's record of 12:58, set in the prime of his career in 1996. Embattled former football player and triple jumper Greg Yeldell finished 13th. Former IU 400-meter star Tia Trent failed to advance out of the semis. Women's assistant coach Krista Ferrara came to an identical fate, as she also advanced out of the prelim but missed the final cut. \nThe Hoosiers will return home early Monday and begin a long-awaited rest. For some, the break will last until heavy indoor track practice begins in late fall. Others will resume training within two to three weeks, as cross country season is only two months away. \nOthers, such as Rose Richmond and Danielle Carruthers, will continue to compete through the summer.