Leppanen Leads Tulane at LSu Alumni Gold

Saturday, April 22

Baton Rouge, La.

All Day

Tulane University

Alumni Gold Invitational

Helmi Leppanen posted towmore NCAA Regional marks on Saturday in Baton Rouge. [File photo by Ned Dishman]

Apr 24, 2006 | Cross Country & Track

April 24, 2006

BATON ROUGE, La. - Senior Helmi Leppanen posted a pair of NCAA Regional qualifying marks to pace the Tulane women's track and field team on Saturday at the LSu Alumni Gold Invitational. Leppanen recorded a season-best effort in the javelin and also notched her fourth NCAA Regional mark in the shot put.

Leppanen's throw of 148 feet, nine inches in the javelin earned her fifth place in the event, while she took fourth in the shot put with a distance of 47 feet, three inches.

Senior Jelena Jurlina was second in the discus at 152 feet, six inches and also placed seventh in the javelin and eighth in the shot put.

Molly Callendar made her debut in the pole vault, clearing 10 feet even to quickly place herself third in the Tulane record books for that event.

Other personal records were achieved by Brianne Darragh (shot put), Whitney Hampton (800), vanessa Kienast (400-meter hurdles) and Kerriann Langley (1500). Shanon Beelendorf and Marilyn Sauls registered season-best performances in the 400-meter dash and the long jump, respectively.

The Green Wave returns to action this weekend at the prestigious Drake Relays in Ames, Iowa.

Tulane Results:
Shanon Beelendorf
400 Meters: 57.03 - season-best

Molly Callender
Pole Vault: 3.05m, 10-00.00 - P.R.

Brianne Darragh
Shot Put: 9.46m, 31-00.50 - P.R.

Whitney Hampton
800 Meters: 2:12.49 - P.R.

Jelena Jurlina
Discus: 46.48m, 152-06 (2nd place)
Javelin: 39.43m, 129-04 (7th place)
Shot Put: 13.10m, 42-11.75 (8th place) - season-best

vanessa Kienast
400-Meter Hurdles: 1:09.58 - P.R.

Kerriann Langley
1500 Meters: 4:56.47 - P.R.

Helmi Leppanen
Javelin: 45.33m, 148-09 (5th place) - NCAA Regional - season-best
Shot Put: 14.40m, 47-03.00 (4th place) - NCAA Regional

Kyra Lobbins
400 Meters: 58.02 - P.R.

Marilyn Sauls
Long Jump: 5.54m, 18-02.25 - season-best

Jill Shriver
5000 Meters: 21:15.03