Thurman wins long jump at ISU Qualifier

AMES, Iowa - Middle Tennessee's Kortney Thurman won the long jump at the 2011 ISU Qualifier on Saturday, leaping 20-1.5 (6.13m) in the victory.

Thurman, the 2011 Sun Belt champion in the event, took the event, but did not improve her NCAA standing in order to qualify for next weekend's NCAA Indoor Championship. The Power Springs, Ga., native's season best mark of 20-5.25 (6.23m), recorded at the MT Valentine Invitational last month, is the 21st longest in the 2011 collegiate ranks.

High jumpers Cherice Robertson and Ann Dudley tied for sixth in Ames, each marking 5-6 (1.68m). Dudley's season best of 5-11.25 (1.81m) is a Middle Tennessee indoor record and sits 19th in the NCAA.

Ken Gilstrap took fourth in the 60-meter dash in 6.84. His season best is 6.78, a converted-55 meters, run at the Blue Raider Invitational. This time is the 69th best in the college ranks.

Josh Butler took second in the triple jump, leaping 48-3.5 (14.72m). His top jump in 2011, 51-2.25 (15.60m), came at the Blue Raider Invitational. It currently stands as the 33rd longest in the country.

This concludes the 2011 indoor season for the men's and women's squads. The Blue Raiders will send Noah Akwu to the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships to run in the 200-meter dash. Coverage of Noah will be available on GoBlueRaiders.com. The full teams return to action on March 19 as the they travel Memphis, Tenn., to open 2011 outdoor competition at the Rhodes Invitational.

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