Baylor Track Has Solid First Day At Big 12 Indoor Championships

Willmann breaks school record in the pentathlon; Ivery has spectacular showing.

Jordan Willmann is the new school recordholder in the heptathlon.

Feb. 28, 2003

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Baylor track and field team performed well on the opening day of the Big 12 Indoor Championships at Nebraska's Bob Devaney Sports Complex. In all, 10 athletes moved on to Saturday's finals. The women finished the day in fifth place with 20 points while the men have 10 points for eighth place.

Junior Jordan Willmann started the Bears on the right path beginning the meet with a phenomenal outing in the pentathlon. She broke Kerry O'Bric's school record (3,865), compiling a total of 3,891 points to take third place.

Sophomore Lakadron Ivery had another stellar meet. She began the day running a provisional time of 7.37 in the 60 meters to move on to the finals in the event. She proceeded to take eighth in the long jump recording a mark of 18-10 �. Ivery also reached Saturday's finals in the 200 with a provisional time of 23.98. All-American April Holliness also scored points for the Bears in the long jump, taking fourth with a leap of 20-1.

In the final individual race of the day for the women, senior Debbie Thornhill improved her provisional status in the 5,000, taking second with a clocking of 16:21.61.

The men's points came from the distance medley relay quartet of Nick Devenport, Robbie Quiroga, Jordan Lewis and Kyle King. They combined to win the race with a time of 9:50.23.

The men fared well in the prelims of the 600-yard run. Brian McDonald won his heat with a time of 1:10.72 to advance to the finals. Wil Fitts (1:10.62) and Korey Wright (1:11.57) also will compete in the 600-yard finals on Saturday. Devenport also advanced, ranking sixth on the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:26.95.

In other preliminary action, freshman Jeremy Wariner won his 400 heat and recorded the third-fastest time overall (47.56) to earn a place in the finals on Saturday. Seth Billy also qualified for the finals in the event clocking the eighth-fastest time of 48.74.

For the women, freshman Janelle Mulkey qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles. She tied for sixth in the semi-finals with a time of 8.74. Danielle Myricks moved on in the 400, clocking a 55.07 to finish second in her heat and seventh in the prelims. Barbara Petrahn won her heat and had the second-fastest time overall (1:22.10) to advance to the finals of the 600-yard race.

Action will continue tomorrow, Sat., March 1, from the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Combined events are set to kick off at 10 a.m., while field events will start at 1:30 p.m. and running events will begin at 3 p.m.

Baylor athletes qualifying for finals:

MEN: Name Event Time Rank Brian McDonald 600 yards 1:10.72 3rd (won heat) Wil Fitts 600 yards 1:10.62 5th Korey Wright 600 yards 1:11:57 6th Jeremy Wariner 400 meters 47.56 3rd (won heat) Seth Billy 400 meters 48.74 8th Nick Devenport 1,000 meters 2:26.95 7th

WOMEN: Name Event Time Rank Lakadron Ivery 60 meters 7.37 3rd 200 meters 23.98 6th Janelle Mulkey 60 hurdles 8.74 6th Barbara Petrahn 600 yards 1:22.10 2nd (won heat) Danielle Myricks 400 meters 55.07 6th

**************** Complete results can be found at www.huskers.com****************