Brown, Iverson earned trip

It’s no accident Nikki Iverson and Taylor Brown will be spending the weekend in Ohio, said coach Jim Clark.

The two Jimmie track and field athletes qualified for nationals, which begin today at the Spire in Geneva, Ohio.

“They are both easy people to work with and they have both put in their time and worked hard to earn this trip,” said Clark, the head women’s track and field coach.

Iverson is in her first season as a multi-eventer, but it hardly shows.

The former state champion for the Blue Jays posted a season-best 2,996 points on Feb. 14, the 15th-best mark in the NAIA.

“Nikki is someone who you have to rein in from time to time or she will work too hard,” Clark said. “That is a good trait for a pentathlete because it does require a lot of extra work that most track athletes don’t have to do.”

The pentathlon begins today at noon. Iverson’s best marks to date are 4-9 (high jump), 16-8 1/2 (long jump), 29-2 (triple jump), 2:24.32 (800) and 9.91 (60 hurdles).

Brown came out of the gates jumping.

The sophomore from Cavalier, N.D., got over 5-3 3/4 to hit the NAIA standard in her first try Jan. 19.

“It takes a lot of work to improve by even one inch in the high jump, so I am happy for Taylor because she gets her work done and does extra,” Clark said.

The high jump is one of the final events of the meet, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Placing will be tough for Brown as she enters 16th.

Both athletes also excel academically.

Iverson carries a 3.80 GPA in physical education. Brown is studying business administration with a 3.57 GPA.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jimmies, track