I think I'm going to start doing 2 blogs each week - one for team updates and another dedicated solely to the immortal Amanda LaRocca. This girl has now qualified for nationals in 5 events - the 55 hurdles, 55 dash, 4x4 relay, high jump, and pentathlon. That is just unheard of. I've come up with 3 possible explanations for her successes this season. First, the shedded time could be in part due to her shedded hair (she cut like 20 inches off at the beginning of the season). Second, she is no longer my roommate, so I'm no longer holding her back. Third, she's training really hard and stepping it up hardcore. Regardless what's responsible, it has been a very impressive season for her thus far.

Luckily, LaRocca isn't even close to being the only stud on the team right now. In our past 2 meets, we've had a ton of standout performances, with 1st place team finishes in both meets. Kerry Devitt never fails to thrill the crowd. At the Titan Open, she had a photo finish victory in the 5000m and smashed the school record. This past weekend at the Keck Invite, she had a super fast mile leg in the DMR (which we were less than a second short of provisionally qualifying for nationals in), a great 800 race, and was still able to show off with a blazing split in the 4x4. Unless you've witnessed it in person, you don't understand how quick her turnover is. I often wonder how ridiculously fast she'd be if she were the size of a normal person.

Competing in the pentathlon alongside LaRocca was Angela Oltman, who came just 2 lousy points away from provisionally qualifying for nationals. Still, she PR'd in multiple events, and I have no doubt in my mind that she'll leave that provisional mark in the dust in her next attempt at the pentathlon. Chinny Ekwulugo improved her national qualifying mark in the triple jump to hopefully secure her spot on the national performance list. At the Titan Open, the 800 crew dropped a lot of time for some HUGE PR's. Collectively, the hard work the team has been putting in these past few weeks has been reaping major payoffs. The countdown to the conference championships is on, and I know we're all getting giddy with anticipation.

The men's team also won the Titan Open, and they finished 5th of 13 teams in the Keck Invite. Wally Farris now has multiple school records to boast about, including the mile and 3000m. Noah Dunham (800) and Darien West (weight throw) both had 1st place finishes this past weekend, and Johnny Maloney put up some impressive marks in the men's pentathlon. Alex Lambert had an NCAA provo mark in the pole vault too! Very exciting stuff.

Monmouth round 2 is next on the schedule.  We're hoping to continue to improve our marks, move up the conference leader boards, and qualify some more people for nationals!

Two more things I'd like to add. First, I'd like to recognize our wonderful IWU trainers for doing a superb job keeping everybody alive at our meets. Second, in case you're not aware, IWU is home to the #1 nationally ranked women's basketball team. That's ballin.

Don't worry, I have 2 more jokes for you! The first is an alumni contribution from Jackie Wickham, and the second is yet another hilarious original joke from myself, Mackenzie Clemens. Enjoy :)

Q1: What is a basketball player's favorite state?

A1: New Jersey!

Q2: So this guy goes to the market, and he walks up to the deli counter. He points at the worker's shin and says to him, "I'll take a pound of that." The deli-man, initially confused, slices it up and hands it over to the man. The man leaves the market and goes on his merry way. What did the guy leave with??

A2: You'll have to check next week's blog for the answer to this one! I encourage guesses, but if you've heard this from me already, please keep your trap shut.