Last weekend, the ISU women’s track team placed eighth at the Big 12 indoor championships, led by dominating performances from Gina Curtis-Rickert and Susan Sherman.

Curtis-Rickert and Sherman accounted for 22 of Iowa State’s 45 points. The Cyclone men were also in action, placing 12th with 12 points.

Curtis-Rickert won the high jump with a leap of 6-2, reclaiming a crown that she won in 2001 but lost last year. Kansas State’s Morgan High, who denied Curtis-Rickert the victory in 2002, also returned, placing second with a jump of 5-10 3/4.

Despite the fact that Curtis-Rickert has the highest jump in the women’s college ranks this year, her victory was not taken for granted, especially with High’s presence.

“She was favored to win, but you don’t rule anything out,” women’s coach Dick Lee said.

Curtis-Rickert felt better going into the meet this year than last.

“It’s a new year, and I’ve had substantial success relative to where I was last year,” she said.

Curtis-Rickert almost put even more distance between first and second place. “She had three very good [attempts] at 6-4, which would have been the Devaney Center record,” Lee said.

Even without clearing 6-4, Curtis-Rickert put her name in the Big 12 record books, tying Erin Aldrich of Texas for the top indoor high jump in conference history.

Curtis-Rickert’s strong performances this year have left her hungry for more.

“I really think that I can [clear 6-4], and if you had asked me that a month ago, I’d have said no,” Curtis-Rickert said.

Sherman had not previously won any Big 12 titles, but on Friday, she had no more mercy for the competition than Rickert did. She won the weight throw with a personal best distance of 63-11 3/4. No other thrower surpassed 60 feet.

“She threw much better than she has all season,” Lee said. “She probably had her best practices of the year over the last two weeks. The throwing was coming easier.”

For much of the season, Sherman had also been practicing with the basketball team, but she has recently given that up in order to focus entirely on track.

Lee said Sherman has been trying to have good throws early in the competition, and she was successful in that goal on Friday.

“With that throw, she put so much pressure on the rest of the kids,” Lee said.

Sherman also placed seventh in the shot put with a heave of 48-8 1/4.

The women’s next best performance came in the distance medley relay. Jessica Huff, Christina Peterson, Stephanie Suntken and Cara Van Eck teamed up to place third in 11:44.27. They were at the front of a pack that had seven teams finish within 12 seconds of each other.

Eighth place or better was required to earn team points. Other point winners for the women included Jessica Huff (fifth in the mile in 4:54.28), Rebecca Williams (sixth in the 60 meter hurdles in 8.58), Sarah Klein (seventh in the 600 yard run in 1:23.97), Priya Hoze (eighth in the 600 in 1:24.04) and Cara Van Eck (fifth in the 1000 meter run in 2:52.84) and the 4×400 meter relay (seventh in 3:46.62).

Lee was especially pleased with how his younger athletes performed.

“Three of the freshmen made it to finals in their events, and all three scored,” Lee said. “That’s a major accomplishment for a freshman in the Big 12 conference.”

The Iowa State men were led by Tony Douglas, who took fifth place in the long jump with a distance of 23-4 1/2.

The rest of the men’s points came from a quartet of seventh- place finishes.

Kristjan Hunter placed seventh out of 48 runners in the 3000 meter run with a time of 8:20.38.

Peter Hess finished in seventh place in a tight race in the mile. His time of 4:12.03 was under five seconds behind the winner.

Mitch Anderson picked up his seventh in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.27.

The 4×400 relay team of Jared Graham, Ryan Boyington, Andy Hadden, and Jerod Torrey also placed seventh in 3:15.85.

The Cyclones will return to action this weekend in Ames for the NCAA Qualifier meet, a final chance for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Championships.