Track: Prentice just misses National Championship, team finishes 24th in the country

March 12, 2006

Boston, MA --- One of Saint Martin’s most decorated student-athletes, Andy Prentice, picked up his second major award in less than a week when he finished third in the 800 meters Saturday at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field national championships in Boston, Mass.

Prentice finished in a time of 1:52.66, missing a national title by .51 seconds. Nick Lara of Adams State won the event in a time of 1:52.15. Prentice was also selected as the NCAA Division II West Region Indoor Male Athlete-of-the-Year earlier in the week.

“It was the best race I have ever watched one of my student-athletes run. He was making moves and racing with such confidence,” said Saints head coach Brad Hooper. “It is so fun to watch an athlete you have been with for so long battle for a National Championship.”

Prentice was passed at the finish line to be edged out of second place, but he finished third overall for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-time best finish. Prentice is also the first GNAC male athlete to be the recipient of two All-American awards.

“Andy raced the exact type of race Coach Julie Sullivan and I mapped out for him. As coaches, we are SO lucky to have such a wonderful person like Andy in our program,” said Hooper.

As a team, Saint Martin's finished tied for 24th in the country with Central Washington, the highest finish for a GNAC Indoor team.

Men: Team Scores - 1. St. Augustine's 66 1/2; 24. Central Washington and Saint Martin's 6; 32. Western Washington 3. Friday: 800 - 9. Andy Prentice, SMU, 1:55.25 (advances to finals). Pole Vault - 4. Tyler Thornbrue, WWU, 4.73 - 15-6 1/4; Scott Romney, WWU, no height. Saturday: 800 - 3. Andy Prentice, SMU, 1:52.66. High Jump - 10. Cresap Watson, CWU, 2.01 - 6-7. Shot Put - 3. Cameron Neel, CWU, 17.09 - 56-1.

Women: Team Scores - 1. Lincoln 87; 38. Seattle Pacific 3; 44. Northwest Nazarene 1/2. Friday: 800 - 14. Teona Perkins, SPU, 2:16.36 (did not advance). Mile - 12. Katie Hummel, CWU, 5:04.51 (did not advance); 13. Mary Moriarty, SPU, 5:07.79. High Jump - 6. Teona Perkins, SPU, 1.72 -5-7 3/4; 8. Emily Peterson, NNU, 1.66 - 5-5 1/4. Saturday: Pole Vault - 10. Amy Harris, SPU, 3.65 - 11-11 3/4.