Hillsboro, Kan. - The Tabor College Women's Track and Field Team and placed second out of nine teams at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Track Meet held Friday and Saturday on the campus of McPherson College, in McPherson, Kan.

A cool and damp weekend didn't stop a number of Bluejays from turning in school record or national qualifying performances including four event championships.

Four new school records were set over the weekend led by junior Kelli Kopper (Cimarron, Kan.) in the 400 meters with a time of 58.23. Junior Christina Addison (Valley Center, Kan.) in the 5000 meters with a time of 19:26.84. Junior Jessica Burden (Little Elm, Texas) in the pole vault with a height of 9-6 ¼, and junior Tasia Johnson (Dallas, Texas) in the long jump with a jump of 18-3.

Individual event winners included Kopper in the 200 meters, Burden 100 meter hurdles, senior Breanna Wray (Walsh, Colo.) in the hammer. The Tabor women also claimed the 4 x 100 meter relay crown. Members of the team included Burden, Johnson freshman Kayla Gershon (Littleton, Colo.), and freshman Becca Liebe (Goddard, Kan.).

"Our women's team performed very well as a team," said Head Track and Field Coach Dave Kroeker. "We had a number of season bests and several women competed outside their normal events to help the team point-wise. Kelli ran six races over two days. Jessica competed in six events and so did Tasia.

"When a team does well in a conference meet it's because lots of people contribute to the point total," Kroeker added. "As in all meets there were some disappointments but that is just the nature of track and field. Not everyone performs their best on the same day. We made a good run at Southwestern this year and just came up short."

Other All-KCAC performances (top three finishers) included Kopper, who placed second in the 400 meters; Addison, who placed third in both the 5000 meters and 10000 meters; Burden, who placed second in the poll vault; Johnson, who placed second in both the long jump and triple jump; junior Erin Vance (Concordia, Kan.) who placed second in the 400 meter hurdles; and senior Estey Wichert (Buhler, Kan.), who placed third in the hammer throw.

Tabor relay teams that were named All-Conference were the women's 4 x 400 meter relay team which placed second. Members of the team include Vance, Burden, Kopper, and junior Chelsea Malone (Ellinwood Kan). The women's 4 x 800 meter relay team placed third. Members of the team include Vance, Kopper, sophomores Liz Kleinsasser (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and Julia Carlton (Hesston, Kan.).

Honorable mention All-KCAC performances (4^th through 6^th places) were turned in by Gershon, who placed fourth in the 100 meters and sixth in the 200 meters; Burden, who placed fourth in the both the 400 meter hurdles and the long jump; Liebe, who placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles; Johnson who placed fourth in the high jump; Malone, who placed fourth in the triple jump; Wray, who placed fifth in the shot put; junior Jera Teselle (Downs, Kan.) who place sixth in the 10K; junior ShaRae Wadel (Greensburg, Kan.) who placed fifth in the 100 meter hurdles, and sixth in the 400 meter hurdles; freshman Sam Van Ranken (Medicine Lodge, Kan.), who placed fifth in both the hammer throw and the javelin; and, sophomore Megan McCarty (Hillsboro, Kan.), who placed sixth in the hammer throw.

"Several Tabor senior women ended their track careers on a high note," said Kroeker. "Breanna won the women's hammer for the first time and her teammate, Estey, placed third in very wet and dangerous throwing conditions in the rain. I was really pleased for both of them. Bre because it was her first conference title and she has worked so hard for it, and Estey, because she has battled a bad back all season and after four years of hard work finished her career as an All-KCAC hammer thrower."

Current Tabor national qualifiers include Addison in the marathon, Johnson in the long jump, and Wray in the hammer throw and shot put. A few Tabor athletes will attempt to qualify for nationals in one of several "last chance" meets this coming week. Kopper is really close in the 400 meters and Burden is very close in the 100 meter hurdles, Kroeker said.

The NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be May 21-23, in St. Louis, Mo.

Full Meet Results