Wyatt quals for nationals at Mines Alumni Extravaganza

Pack junior becomes first qualifer of the season.

GOLDEN, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 10, 2010) - A personal best triple jump by Pack junior Danita Wyatt (Jr., Aurora, Colo.), a national-qualifying leap, headlined a banner day for the ThunderWolves at the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Extravaganza.

Wyatt's second-place finish in the event with a jump of 11.56m, or 37 feet, 11 inches, nearly three inches better than her previous personal best 11.49m, was enough to lift her past the provisional qualifying mark of 11.50m, making her the first ThunderWolf to turn in a provisional qualifying performance this season.

Provisional qualifiers to receive an automatic qualification for nationals.  Instead, all the top provisional qualifiers across the nation upon the season's end will be invited to nationals.

Wyatt also established a personal best in the long jump, 5.37m, earning a fourth-place finish in that event.

Another big headline of the day was the Pack's win in the 4x400-meter relay.

The foursome of Vanessa Emerson (So., Aurora, Colo.), Stephanie Dufford (Jr., Indian Hills, Colo.), Leanne Carberry (Sr., Idledale, Colo.) and Shilay Willis (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) ran the 4x400-meter relay in 4:06.29, three seconds shy of a school record, in blowing out the competition in the event, besting second place by over five seconds.

Willis was also prominent in other events, her most impressive effort coming in the 300-meter, where she sprinted in 41.83 seconds for a second-place finish.  She also finished 7th in the 60-meter with a 7.86.

Other marquee performances included a third-place finish in the shot put by Holli Salazar (So., Hayden, Colo.), and a third place finish in the triple jump by Krista Wiltberger (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.), one spot behind Wyatt. 

Kids were awesome," Pack track coach Chad Perry said. "We had a great Fall and they competed with lots of energy. I am looking forward to us returning in January with great attitude and effort."

Friday's meet, the ThunderWolves' last of the calendar year, begins a winter break for the team before they return to the track Jan. 14 at the Air Force All Comers Meet at the Air Force Academy.