March 5, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The first day of the Alex Wilson Invitational proved to be an exciting one as a new Loftus Sports Center pole vault record was set and 47 athletes and relay teams set NCAA qualifying marks.
Mark Hollis, competing unattached, broke the 18-year old men’s pole vault record of 5.50m (18-0 1/2) with a new mark of 5.51m (18-01).
For the Irish, Eric Quick won the men’s long jump, while Jake Walker provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the men’s 5,000 meters.
The Alex Wilson Invitational continues Saturday with events beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Women’s Weight Throw: Western Michigan’s Irene Cooper was the top thrower with a mark of 19.99m (65-07), followed by Dayton’s Mallory Barnes in second at 19.36m (6306 1/4) and UTEP’s Terran Alexander was third at 19.14m (62-09 1/5). Madeline Casanova finished 11th with a throw of 14.65m (48-00 3/4), and Mason Bashaw was 12th at 13.94m (45-09). The top four throwers set NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Men’s Weight Throw: Indiana State’s Joshua Williams was the top thrower with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 20.30m (66-07 1/4), followed by Southeast Missouri’s Brandon Colbert in second at 19.06m (62-06 1/2) and Indiana’s Patrick Onye in third with a mark of 18.20m (59-08 1/2). John Belcher finished fifth at 18.09m (59-04 1/4), Greg Davis was sixth at 17.66m (57-11 1/4), Mitchell Gormley finished seventh at 16.14m (52-11 1/2) and Mike Smigelski finished eighth with a mark of 14.92m (48-11 1/2).
Women’s Long Jump: Purdue’s Leah Eber won the event with a jump of 6.22m (20-05), followed by teammate Christina Madison in second at 6.19m (20-03 3/4). Western Michigan’s Ashley Hunault finished third at 5.91m (19-04 3/4), and Toledo’s Kiah Douglas was fourth at 5.65m (18-06 1/5). Eber and Madison both set NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Men’s Long Jump: Eric Quick was the top jumper at 7.21m (23-08), followed by Central Michigan’s Kevin Bacon in second at 7.04m (23-01 1/4).
Women’s High Jump: North Carolina’s Patience Coleman finished first with a jump of 1.79m (5-10 1/2), followed by Purdue’s Emily Breslin in second at 1.79m (5-10 1/2) and Marquette’s Erynn James in third at 1.71m (5-07 1/4). Kendra Jennings finished fourth at 1.66m (5-05 1/4) and Central Michigan’s Tanisha Johnson was fifth at 1.66m (5-05 1/4). Coleman and Breslin hit NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Men’s Pole Vault: Mark Hollis, unattached, set a Loftus Sports Center record with a height of 5.51m (18-01). Purdue’s Eric Sparks finished second at 5.14m (16-10 1/4), followed by Central Michigan’s Marcus Briedinger in third at 5.14m (16-10 1/4), teammate Mike McGregor in fourth at 4.99m (16-04 1/2) and Jim Merchun finished fifth at 4.84m (15-10 1/2).
Women’s 5000m: Charlotte’s Amanda Goetschius won the event with a time of 16:09.19, followed by Indiana’s Sarah Pease in second at 16:19.44 and Princeton’s Reilly Keirnan in third 16:21.94. Jessica Rydberg finished 10th in 17:10.48, Erica Watson was 12th at 17:19.02, Susanna Sullivan finished 13th in 17:47.36 and Kari Johnson was 14th in 18:34.43. The top six times were all NCAA provisional marks.
Men’s 5000m: New Mexico’s Chris Barnicle clocked in at 13:47.16 to win the event, followed by Tyson David, of Alabama, in second at 13:54.50 and Jake Walker was third at 13:55.08. Dan Jackson finished 19th at 14:35.23. The top 10 runners all set NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Women’s Distance Medley Relay: Kansas was the top team with a time of 11:07.96, followed by Indiana in second at 11:11.02 and Michigan in third at 11:11.17. Notre Dame finished sixth with a time 11:20.34. The top seven teams hit NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
Men’s Distance Medley Relay: Eastern Michigan was the top team with a time of 9:32.72, followed by Indiana in second at 9:32.73 and Villanova in third at 9:33.11. Minnesota finished fourth in 9:33.85 and Texas was fifth at 9:34.29. Notre Dame finished 13th with a time of 9:04.30. The top 15 teams set NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
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