Idaho Tabs Bernsen Top Men’s Aide

Mark Bernsen has been hired by David Farrar as the top assistant for the University of Idaho men’s basketball program.

Bernsen, 47, has Division I head coaching experience after three seasons (1992-95) at Southwest Missouri State University. Prior to that, Bernsen was an assistant there for three seasons.

As head coach at SW Missouri, he was 48-37 and took his team to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament in 1993.

Bernsen was an assistant at New Mexico State University during the 1995-96 season.

“Two of the most important things in a coach, to me,” Farrar said, “are the ability to teach and the ability to understand human nature as it relates to group dynamics.

“Besides the fact he’s a former Division I coach and he’s had success at all levels, the aforementioned qualities are why I wanted Mark as a part of our staff.”

In addition to his tenure at Southwest Missouri State, Bernsen also was an associate head coach at Murray State University (1986-89); an assistant coach at Murray State (1985-86); and head coach at Jefferson Community College (1977-85).

He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in education. He also earned his master’s degree in education there in 1975.

Vandals women in finals

Idaho advanced five women into today’s 200-meter final, led by sophomore Katharine Hough’s 25.32, at the Bob Gibb Track & Field Classic hosted by Boise State University.

Hough also finished second in the 100-meter dash and will join teammate Kerri Fife in the final today at Bronco Stadium.

Debbie Ogden leaped a season-best 18-1 to finish third in the long jump while Shana Ball also threw a career-best in the discus to finish fourth. Her toss of 143 feet, 9 inches broke her previous mark by more than 46 feet.

While a large contingent of the UI men are competing at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., the Vandals also sent members to the Gibb Classic. Ryan Karrer was the highest finisher, placing fifth in the 200-meter prelims in 22.45.

Bartlett advances

Spokane’s Shelley Bartlett, a senior gymnast at the University of Nebraska, scored a 9.9 on the uneven bars Thursday night and qualified for tonight’s individual finals at the women’s NCAA national championships at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Bartlett tied for ninth in all-around with a score of 39.30.

Nebraska advanced to the team finals, where it finished sixth with 195.250 Friday night. UCLA won the team title with 197.150 points. Arizona State finished second with 196.850.

WSU’s Shultz takes 2nd

Washington State’s Heidi Shultz scored a lifetime-best 5,239 points to take second place at the California Invitational Heptathlon on Friday at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif.

Shultz, a senior from White Salmon, Wash., improved on her NCAA provisional qualifying total of the minimum 5,075 points scored in her first heptathlon this season at Fresno State on March 24-25. Her 5,239 is second-best in WSU women’s track and field history; Connie Eckl tallied 5,718 in 1986.

Beth Reid of Purdue University won the two-day competition with 5,324 points. Twenty-four women began the heptathlon, but three did not complete in all seven events.

Shultz was in third place after the first four events with 3,031 points.

Her Thursday efforts and places were: 100m hurdles, 15.00 (fourth); a personal-best high jump, 5-4-1/4 (fourth); shot put, 36-1-1/2 (seventh); 200m, 25.72 (third). On Friday Shultz’s efforts and places were: long jump, 17-11-3/4 (third); javelin, 129-7 (third); 800m, 2:17.70 (second).

The Cougars men’s and women’s track and field teams are in Eugene, Ore., for today’s Pepsi Invitational.

Fox Sports Northwest will show a tape-delayed 2-hour broadcast of this meet Sunday from 5-7 p.m.

Eastern to scrimmage

Eastern Washington has a football scrimmage today at 11 a.m. at Woodward Stadium to end the first week of spring practice.

, DataTimes