Track and field wraps up season at regional
5/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Outdoor Track, Women's Track and Field
University of Montana junior Chris Hellekson placed 18th in the men???s hammer throw Saturday at the 2009 NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Norman, Okla. Hellekson was one of three Montana athletes competing Saturday. His 18th-place was the highest of the trio.
Hellekson, who competed in the first of three flights, fouled on his first two throws, then went 176-8 on his third toss. He did not advance to the finals.
Hellekson???s career-best throw is 187-4 from the Griz-Cat dual meet this season on May 2.
Sophomore Dimitrios Fylladitakis of UTEP won the event with a throw of 220-8.
"Chris knew he had to have a big throw to have a chance (at making finals), and he gave it everything he had," said Montana track and field coach Brian Schweyen. "When you foul on your first two throws it really puts the pressure on you, but like I said, Chris was just going for that one big throw."
Senior Eli Hermann placed 19th in the men???s steeplechase in a time of 9:22.97. Hermann ran a career-best 9:05.41 at the Oregon Twilight Meet in Eugene on May 9.
The winner of the steeplechase was senior Jake Morse of Texas in 8:46.24.
Kara DeWalt, a junior from Darby, finished 22nd in the women???s steeplechase, running an 11:34.64. She ran an altitude-adjusted 10:31.21 to place second in the steeplechase at the recent Big Sky Conference championships in Missoula.
Jennifer Barringer, a senior from Colorado, won the race in a time of 9:26.20.
"Kara had a great year. I just think she ran out of gas and was mentally and physically tired and exhausted," Schweyen said.
"Eli actually ran a good race, but maybe not in the time he was looking for. I think he had a fantastic career, and he ended it on a great note by competing in the regionals.
"Our coaches did a great job this year, as did our athletes. A lot of our athletes achieved personal records this year, which is a tribute to them and to our coaches.???
