BEREA, OHIO — Baldwin-Wallace College sophomore Kara Weaver (Myrtle Creek, Oregon/ South Umpqua) earned NCAA Division III All-America honors (March 11) in the long jump at the 2005 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championship Meet at Illinois Wesleyan University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Weaver, a sports science major, leaped 18-feet and one and one-half inches to tie both her B-W career-best and national qualifying distance to finish second in her flight and eighth overall. The top eight competitors in each event are regarded as Division III All-Americans. The honor ended an outstanding indoor season for the transfer student from Columbia (N.Y.) University.
"Kara is an outstanding competitor, team leader and student-athlete," said veteran B-W track coach Dr. Bill Taraschke, who is currently in Orlando, Florida with the rest of the track team as they are competing at the Disney Relay Meet. Weaver was accompanied to Illinois Wesleyan by Assistant Coach and her jumps coach Jeff Petersmeyer.
"Kara is just a sophomore and has the ability to have a very special career at B-W," said Taraschke. "She addds a great deal to our program and we are very pleased to have her at B-W. We are extremely happy for her to be able to earn All-America acclaim."
On March 4-5 at Marietta College, Weaver helped to lead the Yellow Jacket women to the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference title as she placed in all five events in which she competed. She was second in the long jump, 55 meter dash and 300 meter dash and sixth in the triple jump and ran on the winning 4 x 200 meter relay team.
Following today's (March 12) final day of the Disney Relay Meet, Weaver and the Yellow Jackets return home and will next compete at the Muskingum College Invitational on March 26.
FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please call Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, FAX him at 440-826-2329 or e-mail him at kruple@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.