Wisconsin Badgers
Iowa State Classic
Verpil, Soceka lead divided Badgers squad
February 12, 2010 | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 12, 2010
Iowa State Classic Results 
| Tyson Invitational Results
MADISON, Wis. -- They competed in different venues, but the senior duo of Jenny Soceka and Johanne Verpil achieved similar results for the Wisconsin women's track and field team Friday.
Soceka notched an NCAA championships provisional qualifying mark when she cleared the bar at 13 feet 3 3/4 inches in the invitational section of the women's pole vault at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
The season-best vault landed Soceka in 13th place in an elite field of collegians and professionals.
Verpil, meanwhile, broke Wisconsin's school record in the weight throw for the third time this season by recording a provisional NCAA mark of 62 feet, 5 3/4 inches to place third in the event at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.
Back at the Tyson Invitational, senior Chavon Robinson jumped 19 feet, 7 1/2 inches in the college division of the long jump, a mark good enough for fifth place. Sophomore Dorcas Akinniyi also competed for Wisconsin in the long jump and finished 14th with a leap of 18-9 3/4.
In the 60-meter hurdles, junior Egle Staisiunaite finished in 8.65 seconds to place 26th in the elite 53-athlete field. Sophomore Jessica Flax came in next for the Badgers by clocking an 8.94, and Akinniyi came in at 9.09.
Finishing just behind Verpil in the Iowa State Classic weight throw competition was sophomore teammate Rebecca Fritz, who took fourth with a personal-best mark of 58-9 1/2. Senior Amanda Hoeppner placed 10th with her throw of 56-11 1/2, while freshman Taylor Smith rounded out the Badgers' entries by finishing 26th with a personal-best toss of 51-9 1/2.
Also competing in the Iowa State Classic, sophomore jumper Tiffany Jones represented the Badgers well by finishing in a three-way tie for seventh place in the women's long jump. Jones jumped 18 feet, 3 inches, out-landing 35 competitors in the 42-athlete field.
Wisconsin's runners also held their own in Ames. In the 5,000 meters, junior Alyssa Beste clocked in at 18:10.16, placing 10th of the 42-runner field.
In the 200 meters, freshman Jameice DeCoster finished in 25.22 seconds, placing 25th of in a field of 138 sprinters. Junior Akaila Cabell was 32nd in 25.41, while freshman Natalie Tarter clocked n indoor personal-best of 27.07.
Both the Iowa State Classic and Tyson Invitational continue Saturday.
