Mountaineers Earn All-American Honors

3/2/2013 4:24:19 PM

GENEVA, OH – Strong performance and all-American honors won highlighted the Eastern Oregon University track and field teams performance on the final day of the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships here Saturday at the Spire Center.
 
Talissa Baldovino, Jodine Steemers, Doug Benson, Ryan Booth, Hans Roelle, and Ryan Rosenau all earned all-American honors on the track during the 3-day event.
 
Benson collected his all-American honors in the men's mile with his eighth place finish behind winner Adam Godwin of Oklahoma Baptist. Benson ran 4:15.60. Benson moved well at the gun, running in the top six through the first 300 meters. He then fell to the back of the back, as is his custom. At the 1200 meter mark, Benson moved to the outside and started to make his move forward. He was able to move into the seventh spot with300 to go and held that spot down the backstretch and into the homestretch, before being caught by Dominic Bowlin of the College of Idaho just before the finish.
 
"It was a tough race for Doug. It was a tough weekend for him. We had him doing a lot of things," remarked Eastern Head Track and Field coach Ben Welch. "He competed extremely well all the way through."

Talissa Baldovino earned all-American honors in the women's 800 with her sixth place finish. Baldovino started on the inside and at the break was in fifth place, a position she held until she reached the final back straight. Anika Gasner of Biola moved passed Baldovino at that point, dropping her to seventh. Baldovino fought back around the last turn and finally moved ahead of Gasner as they came off the turn. Baldovino held Gasner off to the finish running 2:17.47. Junia Limage of Concordia won the event in 2:09.75.
 
"What an amazing weekend for he," beamed Welch. "She performed beyond our expectations."

The men's 800 meters turned out to be the shootout that everyone expected. Booth moved quickly to the front at the gun, joined by Monte Larsen of Morningside and Clay Sherperson of Oklahoma Baptist. Roelle was back in seventh as the group passed the 300 meter mark. Down the backstretch the pack stayed the same. Through the turn and down the homestretch not much changed. At the bell, Booth moved into second, Roelle was still at the rear of the pack. Down the backstretch, Booth and Larsen battled side by side. Larsen finally moved in front of Booth at the top of the turn and held on to for the win. Sherperson got by Booth with only a few meters to go for second with Booth claiming third. Roelle used a strong move over the final 100 meters to move from the back of the pack up to fifth at the finish. Booth recorded a time of 1:53.31 with Roelle running 1:54.12.

"Considering how Hans felt last week he did an incredible job this weekend. Ryan positioned himself well to win it all but it just wasn't there, despite an excellant effort," stated Welch. 
 
Steemers ran a bold race in the women's 5000 running from the front only to get passed late and finish seventh. She took the lead from the gun and holding that position through three-quarters of the race. Behind her the group of Hannah Helker, Oklahoma Baptist, Rocio Pelayo, Concordia (Ca.), Kortney Ellingboe, Olivet Nazarene, Kristen Garwood, Hannibal-LeGrange, Trish Nelson, Bethel, and Jessica Davis, Texas Wesleyan remained patient until the final three laps. With two laps to go the pack, minus Davis moved passed Steemers. Helker created a gap over the field and went on to collect the win. Davis moved by Steemers with 200 to and held on for the sixth place finish while Steemers finished in 17:36.96 for seventh.
 
"What a gutsy performance. She runs well from the front and she was determined to try to win it from there," offered Welch. 

The men's Distance Medley Relay closed out the meet for the Mounties with a seventh place finish behind event winner Southern Oregon. Roelle led off for Eastern running the 1200 leg. He ran with the pack the entire way handing to Ryan Rosenau in sixth. Rosenau ran a strong 400 leg and handed the baton to Booth with the Mounties in seventh. Booth ran with the group, sans Southern Oregon who open a big gap in the 400 leg, the entire 800 distance before moving up to sixth at the exchange. Benson, running the 1600 leg, ran a solid race but was not able to make up any ground and was passed by a Brenden Kelly of Cumberlands with 300 to go to drop back to seventh. Eastern ran 10:08.55.
 
"The guys were workhorses all week. It was a strong performance to finish off the week," expressed Welch on the DMR. "Rosenau ran really well on his 400 leg to really help us."

The Mountaineers leave the national meet with two women all-Americans and seven on the men's side.