Edem, Rathke qualify for nationals

Tarleton track — Tarleton State will be represented by two athletes at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Nationals. || Photo and graphic courtesy TARLETON

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STEPHENVILLE (March 4, 2015) – The accepted entries for the 2015 NCAA Division II indoor track and field championships were releasedTuesday with two Tarleton athletes earning the opportunity to compete for a national championship.

“Obviously, anytime you can get an athlete to the national championships, it’s an honor in itself,” said Tarleton head coachPat Ponder.

Junior Chase Rathke – who finished third in the men’s 800m at last years national indoor meet – will represent the Texans in the men’s mile.

Rathke is no stranger to national championship meets having competed in three over the course of his career, with the last appearance culminating in a 1500m national championship.

The Crawford native set the school record in the mile during the opening meet of the season at the Texas Tech Indoor Open, needing only 4:08.27 to go the distance. The junior recorded provisional marks in the mile in each of his two attempts during the regular season.

Rathke’s time is currently ranked No. 17 in the nation amongst a field that will feature four returners from last years national meet. Baptiste Moreu of West Texas A&M will join Rathke as the only competitors to represent the Lone Star Conference in the men’s mile at the national meet.

Joining Rathke at the NCAA championships will be senior jumperEuphemia Edem.

Edem, who qualified for the national meet in both the triple jump and the long jump, earned her spot in the meet by way of a school record and automatic mark in the long jump clearing 19′-9.5″ to secure her spot in the championships.

Edem is currently ranked No. 7 in the long jump and No. 2 in the nation in the triple jump with a season best of 41′-6.5″, also a school record.

The senior transfer has recorded an NCAA automatic or provisional mark in every meet she has competed in this season.

“We’re going to compete with the expectation to win. I always say, ‘We’re going to shoot for the stars and if we hit the tree top, the tree top might be All-American status.’ Chase and Euphemia certainly have the ability to hit all of the goals they have set for themselves,” said Ponder.

Tarleton will travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the NCAA Division II indoor track and field championships Mar. 13-14.