Severe Weather Mars Second Day Of MAC Championships
Fri, May, 13 | Women's Track and Field
UPDATED MEET SCHEDULE (.pdf) --- LIVE STATS
The Bowling Green State University track and field team was slated to compete ten different events on Friday (May 13) at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Instead, the team spent most of the day inside, dodging severe weather, as most events were postponed until Saturday.
The second day of the meet in DeKalb, Ill. began innocuously enough as the combined events (men's decathlon and women's heptathlon) were completed, as was the men's shot put event. However, as the first heat of the women's 1500 meter preliminary event took place, thunderstorms moved into the area.
The DeKalb area came under a tornado warning eventually, and the meet could not be resumed until 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Due to this delay, several changes to the schedule for Saturday were made. The women's long jump and shot put were both postponed until Saturday, as was the 3000 meter steeplechase. The preliminary races for the sprints, hurdles and mid-distance races were all canceled. The races on Saturday will all be championship finals and will be conducted by heats as they were scheduled for Friday.
The top eight times in each race, regardless of heat, will earn points for their team.
The only exception is in the women's 1500 meters. Because that preliminary event began prior to the weather delay, those heats were completed, and the top 12 runners will advance to the championship race on Saturday.
Carly Wells and Autumn Dettmann raced for the Falcons in the 1500 meters. Wells placed 16th overall after registering a time of 4:41.00, while Dettmann crossed the finish line in 4:44.47 for a 19th place finish.
The only women's team points during Friday's action were awarded after the completion of the heptathlon. The updated standings are as follows:
1. Kent State 43
2. Miami 25
3. Buffalo 21
T 4. Akron 20
T 4. Ohio 20
6. Toledo 15
T 7. Eastern Michigan 10
T 7. Central Michigan 10
9. Western Michigan 9
T10. BOWLING GREEN 8
T10. Ball State 8
12. Northern Illinois 0