FERRIS STATE LONG JUMPER RANKED FIRST IN THE NATION

Senior Amy Woodman Tops D2 List As Bulldogs Head Into GLIAC Championships

Ferris senior Amy Woodman is the nation's top-ranked performer in the women's long jump

Woodman, who is in her first season with FSU after transferring from the University of Wales, posted a school-record leap of 19-10.75 in her most recent competition (Feb. 16) at the Eastern Michigan Classic in Ypsilanti, Mich. Woodman claimed first place at the meet in a field of 34 jumpers, which included a number of student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Her record-breaking mark bettered the second-place performance by 11 inches at the EMU Classic.

Presently, Woodman's 19-10.75 effort is six inches better than the second-place individual on the NCAA-II listing, which happens to be Kirby Blackley of fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Findlay.

Woodman will get a chance to square off against Blackley as the Bulldogs take part in the 2008 GLIAC Indoor Championships slated for this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1, in Findlay, Ohio. The meet begins Friday at 4 p.m. (EST) Malcolm Athletic Center, a part of the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex on the University of Findlay campus.

In addition to Woodman, the Bulldogs also have two other individuals who have provisionally qualified for the NCAA-II Championships. Senior thrower Kamitra Carroll (Flint/Carman-Ainsworth) is presently listed 12th nationally in the shot put (45-7.25) and 16th in the weight throw (55-2.25). Also, freshman Marva Goodson (Saginaw/Bridgeport) ranks 21st in the long jump (18-1.50) this season at the national level.

A number of Bulldog student-athletes are among the competitors to watch at this weekend's GLIAC Championships. In addition to holding the best mark in the long jump going into the conference meet, Woodman is also seventh in the 55 meters (7.36) and eighth in the 200 meters (26.00) on the latest GLIAC Performance listing. Carroll comes in fifth and ninth in the shot put and weight throw, respectively, while Goodson is fifth overall in the long jump entering the league championships.

Junior Krystle Wilson (Detroit/Trinity Catholic) is listed sixth in the 200 meters (26.00) and seventh in the 400 meters (59.09), senior Dia Price (Mt. Morris/Beecher) is seventh in the high jump (5-3.75) and the Bulldog women's 4x400-meter relay squad ranks fifth (3:59.53) at the conference level.

The Bulldog men have a pair of individuals and two relay teams ranked among the GLIAC's top eight performers heading into Friday's competition. Senior Dave Czerny (Piedmont, S.D.) currently is eighth in the pole vault (15-1.25) and senior Jared Kelsh (Chippewa Lake/Chippewa Hills) ranks ninth in the mile run (4:22.39). FSU's distance medley relay squad is sixth (10:31.20) and the 4x400-meter relay team is listed eighth (3:33.21) among the conference's men's leaders.

Nationally, the Bulldog women's squad is currently ranked 24th in the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Coaches Power Rankings. FSU is one of six GLIAC schools listed in the national top 25 rankings on the women's side. Three league men's squads are in the latest national top 25 listing.

This weekend's conference meet will give individuals a final chance to reach national qualification marks for the NCAA-II Indoor Track and Field Championships slated for March 14-15 in Mankato, Minn.