Springer works back from breathing problems

Tuesday, March 30 2010 - Big Blue Classic

By: Kevin Murphy/Staff Reporter

Posted: 3/30/10

Senior Jason Springer posted a runner-up finish in the 1,500-meter run after Indiana State sophomore Jeremiah Vaughan cruised past Springer in the final 200-meters.

"I'm still trying to come back into the shape I was in two months ago," Springer said. "He had a pretty decent kick at the end."

Senior David Holm took the lead, because no one else did.

"We were waiting for someone to go, and no one ever did." Springer said. "So we popped out front. No one really wanted to deal with the wind."

Springer had breathing problems and got healthy enough for the indoor conference championships.

He's been doing the little stuff to try to get back to his top form.

"Slowly, I'm getting better," he said.

He estimates that he's at about 80 percent right now, and that he should be at 100 percent in a couple of weeks.

Springer said it's tough for him and Holm because they aren't in their top form.

Holm qualified for the indoor national championships in the 800-meter run in 2009.

"He's looking better," Springer said.

Napoleoni excited after first race

After dealing with mono, anemia and shin splints, junior Caitlin Napoleoni finished her first track event since the 2009 outdoor season.

Napoleoni finished second to freshman Britney Whitehead in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, but the event was treated more like a workout. The two ran next to one another the entire time. Napoleoni eventually took the outside of the first lane. Whitehead finished in 12:41.50, and Napoleoni finished in 12:42.40.

"It was perfect to get a feel for things even just to run," she said.

Napoleoni said it was even exciting just to put on an Eastern uniform again.

It was Whitehead's first 3,00-meter steeplechase.

Smith looks to improve times

Red-shirt senior Shawana Smith ran her first official meet since the last outdoor season. She had quite the busy day.

She won the 200-meter dash, finished second in the 100-meter dash and helped the 400-meter relay team to a first-place finish.

Smith and the rest of the competitors finished the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash in reverse, because of the windy conditions.

"I just go to work my kinks out," she said. "I wish my 100 time was a little better. I was a little slow. It was cold out. My body was a little stiff. I gotta get the turnover a lot faster when it's cold out."

She finished the 100-meter dash in 12.29 seconds.

Familiar face, different place

Former Eastern runner Violet Nwordu is finishing her final year and completing her graduate coursework at Indiana State.

The Sycamores defeated Loyola of Chicago, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Wisconsin Milwaukee, but lost to Eastern at the EIU Invitational Saturday at O'Brien Field.

Nwordu finished fourth in the 100-meter dash, fifth in the 200-meter dash and anchored the Sycamores' 1,600-meter relay to a second-place finish.

Next up

The Panthers return to action when they host the Big Blue Classic starting with the multi-events on Thursday. The rest of the meet starts on Friday and Saturday at O'Brien Field.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmurphy@eiu.edu.