Feb. 4, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Three meet records fell on the first night of competition in the 18th Annual Meyo Invitational Indoor Track & Field Meet Friday night at the Loftus Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
New meet marks were set in the men’s 5,000 meters and both the men’s and women’s distance medley relays.
Boas Cheboiywo (representing Nike) set a new meet record in the men’s 5,000 meters, defeating a top field of collegiate runners in a time of 13 minutes, 38.14 seconds. That time bettered the previous Meyo Invitational record of 13:46.50 set by David Kimani of Alabama in 2002. Cheboiywo finished ahead of Gavin Thompson of Crawley AC (14:00.24), Itay Magidi of Clemson (14:03.60) and Notre Dame junior Tim Moore (14:12.67). Magidi and Moore both set provisional NCAA qualifying times with their performances. Moore’s outing was his best this season and a personal best in the event.
Michigan’s women’s distance medley relay team set a new meet record while running the fastest DMR time in the U.S. this season as the Wolverines finished in 11:05.33. That NCAA automatic qualifying mark set by Nicole Edwards, Sierra Hauser-Price, Theresa Feldkamp and Lindsey Gallo bettered the old Meyo Invitational record of 11:07.27 set by a quartet from Georgetown in 2004. Georgetown was second in the DMR in a time of 11:08.60, also bettering the NCAA automatic qualifying standard. Missouri was third in 11:19.46, bettering the NCAA provisional qualifying standard.
Michigan’s men’s DMR also set a new 2005 collegiate best while posting the second-fastest time ever on the Loftus Indoor Center track, finishing in 9:36.03 to set a provisional NCAA qualifying mark. The performance shattered the old Meyo Invitational record of 9:43.18 set by Alabama in 2000. The Wolverines’ foursome of Mike Woods, Stann Waithe, Andrew Ellerton and Nathan Brannen finished well ahead of Missouri (9:48.61), Wake Forest (9:55.25) and Oklahoma (10:03.33).
In the women’s 5,000 Mary Davies of Oklahoma State had a convincing victory in a time of 16:34.29. Davies’ time was an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Ball State’s Jill Scully was second in 16:49.85 with Wake Forest’s Erin Franklin third in 16:57.86. Notre Dame junior Jean Marinangeli was fifth in 17:22.72.
Michigan’s Ashley Eckel won the women’s weight throw with a toss of 17.24 meters (56 feet, 6 3/4 inches). Mississippi’s Kristi Stillwell was second (16.72m/54-10 1/4) and Erica Bailey of Michigan State was third (16.52m/54-2 1/2). Meghan Horn was the top Notre Dame finisher, placing ninth with a toss of 14.74 meters (48-4 1/2).
In the women’s 300-meter dash, Kenyata Coleman of Mississippi was the winner in a time of 39.11 seconds, easily beating Stacey Adewankun of Alabama-Birmingham (39.47) and Sirdonea Davis of Ole Miss (39.62). The four-heat final was decided in the final heat as the top four finishers raced head-to-head with Coleman leading the way.
The men’s 300 also was a four-heat final with Toronto’s Daniel Barbarie taking first in 34.56. Barbarie led a field of 19 sprinters with the victory. Franz Bernard of Ole Miss was second in 34.57 with Bob Westman of Western Ontario third in 34.58.
Kentucky’s Beth Heimann won the women’s 1,000 in a time of 2:51.84, edging Michigan’s Anna Jones (2:52.61) and Notre Dame sophomore Brianne Schmidt (2:53.25 – a personal best). Freshman Jacqueline Carter was fourth in a PR of 2:55.35 while Irish freshman Mary Debevec was 12th in 3:00.09, also a PR.
In the men’s pole vault, Paul Terek (competing unattached) won with a best of 5.31 meters (17 feet, 5 inches). Terek edged Michigan State’s Brad Gebauer (5.20/17-0 3/4) and Mitch Greeley of Clemson (5.10/16-8 3/4) to lead a field of 25 competitors. Notre Dame’s Dave Viken was 13th at 4.50/14-9.
The 18th annual Meyo Indoor Invitational concludes Saturday at the Loftus Sports Complex with a full schedule of action beginning with the women’s 3,000 at 10 a.m. The highlight of the day should be the men’s mile, the Meyo Mile, slated to begin at 2:30 p.m.
-ND-