Lindenwood Aiming for Sweep of NAIA Titles

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 002/SPORTS

Lindenwood aiming for sweep of NAIA titles


By Michael Grant
mgrant@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



In his own mind at least, the pressure is off Lindenwood (Mo.) University's Lane Lohr.

The second-year track and field coach has a championship, having led Lindenwood to the NAIA indoor title in March. Now his team will shoot for the outdoor crown when the NAIA Track and Field Championships begin today at Cardinal Park at the University of Louisville.

Lindenwood is one of 113 schools that will compete in the event that will run through Saturday. A total of 1,084 athletes are expected.

Lindenwood entered this event last year as the defending champ but finished second to Dickinson State. That was during Lohr's first season after replacing NAIA Hall of Fame coach John Creer.

Creer won seven national championships -- five men and two women -- while at Wayland Baptist College. After taking over at Lindenwood, he won the men's indoor title in 1998 and the men's outdoor in 2003 before retiring to become the school's athletic director.

Lohr admits there was pressure in replacing Creer.

"After they won in '03, we tried to put together a team that could match that," said Lohr, who previously had been a high school coach in St. Louis. "That was the pressure. Our men finished second in indoors and outdoors. But the pressure was off a little bit after (this year's) indoor win."

Creer said Lohr has done an excellent job.

"I've tried very hard to stay out of the picture," Creer said. "I don't have anything to do with the team other than the relationship of the athletic director to the track coach. I hope by doing that Lane feels less pressure on him."

Lohr will try to pull off something Creer never did in his career: win the indoor and outdoor championships in the same year. Wayland Baptist won five straight indoor titles from 1985-89 and placed second in the outdoors from 1985-87.

"We've come close, but it's very difficult," Creer said.

Lindenwood will count heavily on senior Kendrick Triggs. At the indoor meet he earned the Men's Outstanding Performer award by finishing first in the 55 and 200 meters and helping Lindenwood win the 1,600 relay. He will run the 100 and 200 this week.

Dickinson State will be led by Derrick Atkins. The senior is a five-time national champion and won the 100 and 200 in 2004. Azusa Pacific and Virginia Intermont also are expected to challenge for the team title.

Women: Azusa Pacific, the two-time defending champion, will be hard-pressed to repeat.

The Cougars' premiere thrower, Vivian Chukwuemeka, will not participate. Coach Mike Barnett said the senior is redshirting this semester so that she can participate next spring. That's a huge loss considering Chukwuemeka has been named Outstanding Performer in four of the seven NAIA championship meets in which she has participated.

The Nigerian dominated last year's outdoor meet while winning the shot put (17.75 meters or 58.23 feet) and discus (50.98, 167.25) and placing second in the hammer (55.36, 181.62).

Can Azusa Pacific win without her?

"It's going to be tough," Barnett said. "That's a guaranteed 30 points you're missing."

Oklahoma Baptist, McKendree and Simon Fraser also are expected to challenge for the top spot. Oklahoma Baptist, which won the indoors title, is led by distance runner Miriam Kaumba. The senior is the defending champ in the 5,000 and 10,000.

This is the second straight year Louisville has hosted the NAIA outdoor championships, but next year's event won't be here. Andy Jugan, executive director of the Greater Louisville Sports Commission, said the city had to back out because of a lack of available facilities.

[Scott Go Pre]

good luck to you guys and gals!