Courtesy UNI Athletics Communications –
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa indoor track & field squads tuned up for next weekend’s Missouri Valley Conference Championships by hosting the UNI-Dome Open on Friday.
Head coach Dan Steele said both of his teams put up strong efforts on Friday in preparation for next week’s meet.
“We got everything we wanted out of this meet,” Steele said. “We are ready to go for the conference meet.”
The Panthers had a few individual efforts that stuck out in Steele’s mind on Friday.
“Matt Schiffer had a huge personal record in 35-pound weight throw (18.94m) and he is looking terrific every week. We are thrilled with how he is developing,” Steele said. “Brad Walski had another big personal record today in the shot put (16.70m). Brad has had huge throws in back-to-to back weeks so we are excited where he is headed.
“Christine MacNeill ran a nice personal record in the hurdles (8.66) and she is rounding into form where we need her to be. Both Brette Correy and Theresa Connelly ran well in the 800. Theresa also led off the 4×400 and ran a pretty quick leg.”
The Panthers also saw the return of Sebastian Barth from injury as he competed for the first time this spring in the 60-meter hurdles. Barth won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.02.
“It was nice to have Sebastian back in action,” Steele said. “He had not competed and was only going to compete this week and during the MVC meet. We are confident he can help us next week at the MVC Championships.”
Steele said the youth of his team will show through next week at the MVC meet.
“Half of our conference roster is underclassmen and it will be the first time they have experienced a conference meet,” Steele said. “We won’t be intimidated and we will be pretty loose heading into it. We can be a spoiler and make things tough for the other squads.”
The MVC Championships will take place March 1-2 in the UNI-Dome.
