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Racing without titles
SDSU athletes miss out on postseason opportunities
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...505140339/1002
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Published: 05/14/05 2:19 am
South Dakota State University distance runner Brad Lowery had the best mile run in state history at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays last weekend in Sioux Falls. But the senior will be left out of national competition because of restrictions imposed on incoming Division I schools.
Brad Lowery lined up on the Howard Wood track last week and cruised to the best mile run in state history. A week earlier, he posted victories in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs at the Drake Relays, setting a new school record in the latter.
In the waning days of his collegiate career, stopwatches have become Lowery's primary conquest. South Dakota State's move to Division I ended Jackrabbit athletes' chances to compete for national championships for a while.
"The goals have been a little redefined this year," said Lowery, who will compete at the nine-team D-I Independent Championships starting today in Davis, Calif.SDSU has been recruiting athletes in recent years with the thought of Division I firmly planted in their minds. However, the ones who were already on campus when the school made the move official were left in limbo. The lure of competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics kept many around, while others left the school to continue their pursuit of glory and titles.
"I have no regrets," said Andy Moeller, who left the Jackrabbit men's basketball team to play his senior year at Minnesota State-Mankato. "I do feel bad, but there are no hard feelings against the coaching staff at SDSU. It was more a decision about playing my senior year for something I had been trying to do my whole college career."Shortly after school officials announced in the fall of 2003 that SDSU would leave Division II the following year, then-track and cross country coach Paul Danger drove to Pierre to meet with Lowery.
Danger suggested that Lowery could transfer to a Division I or II school to continue his career, and the coach would support him. Lowery wanted to wait at least until after that cross country season to decide.
"After cross country season, I realized I only had two years of school left," Lowery recalled. "I thought if I transferred somewhere, that would extend it to three years. SDSU had been great to me, so I didn't want to go anywhere else."Danger announced his resignation that following summer. That had Lowery contemplating where to go, until Danger said that former Olympic marathon runner Rod DeHaven would take over at SDSU.
DeHaven, who won Division II titles in track and cross country, said Lowery could have been an All-American at the Division I level if he had transferred or was allowed to compete in postseason meets this season. The majority of SDSU athletes won't be able to participate for NCAA Championships at the D-I level until 2008-09."He's hit (D-I) regional qualifiers," DeHaven said, "and he's being penalized that we're not through our transition."
Still, the senior from Pierre has plenty to look forward to until his December graduation. There's the Independent meet this weekend, which compares to a conference meet. Plus, Lowery has a chance to qualify for the USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held in June in Carson, Calif. And after redshirting this season in cross country, he will wrap up his career in the fall.
But the only thing he's running for now is the record book."I've enjoyed my decision," Lowery said. "I wouldn't change it."
Leaving for a title shot
SDSU athletes miss out on postseason opportunities
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...505140339/1002
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Published: 05/14/05 2:19 am
South Dakota State University distance runner Brad Lowery had the best mile run in state history at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays last weekend in Sioux Falls. But the senior will be left out of national competition because of restrictions imposed on incoming Division I schools.
Brad Lowery lined up on the Howard Wood track last week and cruised to the best mile run in state history. A week earlier, he posted victories in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs at the Drake Relays, setting a new school record in the latter.
In the waning days of his collegiate career, stopwatches have become Lowery's primary conquest. South Dakota State's move to Division I ended Jackrabbit athletes' chances to compete for national championships for a while.
"The goals have been a little redefined this year," said Lowery, who will compete at the nine-team D-I Independent Championships starting today in Davis, Calif.SDSU has been recruiting athletes in recent years with the thought of Division I firmly planted in their minds. However, the ones who were already on campus when the school made the move official were left in limbo. The lure of competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics kept many around, while others left the school to continue their pursuit of glory and titles.
"I have no regrets," said Andy Moeller, who left the Jackrabbit men's basketball team to play his senior year at Minnesota State-Mankato. "I do feel bad, but there are no hard feelings against the coaching staff at SDSU. It was more a decision about playing my senior year for something I had been trying to do my whole college career."Shortly after school officials announced in the fall of 2003 that SDSU would leave Division II the following year, then-track and cross country coach Paul Danger drove to Pierre to meet with Lowery.
Danger suggested that Lowery could transfer to a Division I or II school to continue his career, and the coach would support him. Lowery wanted to wait at least until after that cross country season to decide.
"After cross country season, I realized I only had two years of school left," Lowery recalled. "I thought if I transferred somewhere, that would extend it to three years. SDSU had been great to me, so I didn't want to go anywhere else."Danger announced his resignation that following summer. That had Lowery contemplating where to go, until Danger said that former Olympic marathon runner Rod DeHaven would take over at SDSU.
DeHaven, who won Division II titles in track and cross country, said Lowery could have been an All-American at the Division I level if he had transferred or was allowed to compete in postseason meets this season. The majority of SDSU athletes won't be able to participate for NCAA Championships at the D-I level until 2008-09."He's hit (D-I) regional qualifiers," DeHaven said, "and he's being penalized that we're not through our transition."
Still, the senior from Pierre has plenty to look forward to until his December graduation. There's the Independent meet this weekend, which compares to a conference meet. Plus, Lowery has a chance to qualify for the USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held in June in Carson, Calif. And after redshirting this season in cross country, he will wrap up his career in the fall.
But the only thing he's running for now is the record book."I've enjoyed my decision," Lowery said. "I wouldn't change it."
Leaving for a title shot
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