March 4, 2006
Notre Dame, Ind. – Seven Notre Dame athletes and one Irish relay squad met provisional qualifying standards for the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships and one school record fell on the final day of action as the Alex Wilson Invitational Track and Field meet concluded Saturday afternoon at the Loftus Sports Center on the University of Notre Dame campus.
Over two days of competition, eight Irish athletes qualified for the NCAA meet: Stephanie Madia (women’s 5,000), Maryann Erigha (women’s 60 and 200), Jacqueline Carter (women’s 800), Thomas Chamney (men’s 800), Amy Kohlmeyer (women’s 3,000), Tim Moore (men’s 3,000) and A.J. Andrassy (men’s 3,000). The Notre Dame men’s distance medley relay also met the qualifying standard on Friday night, followed by the men’s 4×400-meter relay unit on Saturday. Madia’s 5k performance on Friday night was the lone Irish automatic qualifying outing. Carter broke a 13-year-old school record in the women’s 800.
A summary of Saturday’s action at the Alex Wilson:
Women’s 3,000 Meters
The top eight finishers bettered the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 9:35.00, led by Colorado’s Liza Pasciuto who won the race in a time of 9:16.36. Pasciuto won handily ahead of Susie Bush (running unattached in a time of 9:22.32) and LaSalle’s Rachel Papin (9:22.69). Notre Dame’s Amy Kohlmeier was sixth in 9:32.26, a new season-best outing for her and a provisional NCAA qualifying mark.
Men’s 3,000 Meters
Jacob Korir of Eastern Kentucky won a tight battle in 7:58.25 as the top 12 finishers bettered the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 8:05.00. Korir edged Kip Kangogo of TCU (7:58.36) and Rod Koborsi of Georgetown (7:59.34) with Vincent Rono of South Alabama (8:00.01) and Micah VanDenend of Iowa (8:00.81) close behind. Two Notre Dame runners, Tim Moore (8:03.74) and A.J. Andrassy (8:04.18) achieved provisional marks in the race while finishing ninth and tenth, respectively.
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles
All six finalists achieved provisional qualifying marks (8.43 or faster), led by event winner Tamera Thomas of Central Michigan (8.17). Georgia Tech’s Fatmata Fofanah was second in 8.30 and Amber Williams of Ball State placed third in 8.38.
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles
Michigan’s Jeff Porter won by an eyelash over Purdue’s Ricky Pinkney, clocking a 7.801 to Pinkney’s 7.810. Both were provisional marks, the only provisional qualifiers in the event. Alabama’s Byron Gibson was third in 7.92, barely missing the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 7.91.
Women’s 60-Meter Dash
Four sprinters produced NCAA provisional qualifying times (standard is 7.44), led by Georgia Tech’s Andriane Lapsley who won the race in 7.31. Patrice Beasley of Eastern Michigan was second in 7.35 with Notre Dame’s Maryann Erigha third in 7.38. California’s Antonette Carter was fourth with a provisional mark of 7.42.
Men’s 60-Meter Dash
Tanko Braimah, running unattached, won in 6.76. Kent State’s Marc Johnson was second in 6.79 with Ahmed Awesu of South Alabama third in 6.89. None of the finalists produced NCAA provisional qualifying marks as they failed to beat the standard of 6.72.
Alex Wilson 800 Meters
The top four finishers produced NCAA provisional qualifying performances. North Carolina’s Ragan Clay won the event in 1:48.96, nipping Notre Dame’s Thomas Chamney (1:48.98) and Minnesota’s Trent Riter (1:49.07). Courtney Jaworski of Pennsylvania was fourth in 1:49.32, rounding out the NCAA qualifiers who exceeded the provisional standard of 1:49.50. Notre Dame’s John Cavanaugh was sixth in 1:49.90.
Women’s 400 Meters
This three-heat final was dominated by runners from the South as the third heat produced the top five finishers overall, all achieving NCAA provisional qualifying marks as they bettered the standard of 54.40. Cynetheia Rooks of LSU won the event in 53.24 seconds as she beat out Kenyata Coleman of Mississippi (53.41). Latashia Kerr of Texas (53.42) and Alexandria Anderson of Texas (53.63) were third and fourth, respectively. South Alabama’s Ajoke Odumosu was fifth with a provisional qualifying mark of 53.66. Okechi Ogbuokiri of Notre Dame finished seventh in a time of 55.46.
Men’s 400 Meters
Abe Jones of Illinois won the event as the quarter-mile produced three NCAA provisional qualifiers who beat the standard of 47.25. Jones’s time of 46.60 led the way, ahead of Alabama’s Lachristopher Lewis (47.04) and Kellen Blassingame of Virginia (47.08). Notre Dame’s Ryan Postel was sixth in 47.84.
Women’s 800 Meters
The top nine finishers eclipsed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 2:09.00 led by LSU’s Tanya Osbourne who won the race in a time of 2:06.02. Leslie Treherne of Tennessee was second in 2:06.94 followed by Tenia Fisher of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who was third in 2:07.20. Other provisional marks were achieved by Akron’s Jennie Castle (fourth in 2:07.27), LSU’s Meisue Francis (fifth in 2:07.27), Purdue’s Brooke Woodruff (sixth in 2:07.90), Akron’s Beata Rudzinska (seventh in 2:07.94), Katara Rosby of Texas (eighth in 2:08.20) and Notre Dame’s Jacqueline Carter, who broke a 13-year old school record (2:10.13 by Erica Peterson in 1993) with a time of 2:08.75 as she placed ninth.
Men’s 800 Meters
Georgetown’s Chris Bonner won the men’s 800 in a time of 1:49.29. Bonner’s performance bettered the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 1:49.50, the only runner to achieve that in the race. Tennessee’s Yarrick Kincaid was second in 1:50.18 with Villanova’s Mark Korich third in 1:50.51.
Women’s 200 Meters
Notre Dame’s Maryann Erigha won the women’s 200-meter dash with a 23.90 clocking to provisionally qualify for the NCAA championships. Erigha edged Patrice Beasley of Eastern Michigan (23.94) for the victory. Pittsburgh’s Shantea Calhoun was third in 24.19. Erigha was the only sprinter to meet or exceed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 23.90.
Men’s 200 Meters
Dominique Worsley of Illinois won the men’s 200-meter dash in a time of 21.24 seconds. Jordan Boase of Washington was second in 21.46 with Jacob Farmer of Mississippi third in 21.60, Tanko Braimah was fourth running unattached in 21.71, Adam Lies of Indiana State was fifth in 22.62 and Nathan Payne of Notre Dame was sixth in 23.93. None of the six finalists met or exceeded the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 21.23.
Women’s Mile
Meghan Armstrong of Iowa outpaced a field of 24 runners in a three-heat final to win the women’s mile in 4:40.59, easily bettering the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 4:47.00. Armstrong led a quintet of provisional qualifiers in the event as she was joined by Rice’s Callie Wells (4:43.06), Marquette’s Michaelea Courtney (4:43.07), Notre Dame’s Ramsey Kavan (4:43.78) and Marquette’s Cassie Peller (4:46.00).
Men’s Mile
The top 10 finishers in the men’s mile beat the NCAA provisional qualifying standard of 4:04.90, led by Rice’s Pablo Solares who broke the tape in 4:01.87. The rest of the top 10 went as follows: Anthony Chiulli of Colorado (4:03.16), Sean McCabe of Oklahoma State (4:03.33), James Wyner of Cornell (4:03.48), Tommy Manning of Georgetown (4:03.52), Kevin Davis of California (4:03.59), Dylan Wykes of Texas (4:03.59), Patrick Gavin of LSU (4:03.92), Tim Konoval of Pittsburgh (4:04.47) and Harry Norton of Dartmouth (4:04.71).
Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay
Six relay foursomes produced NCAA provisional qualifying marks, bettering the standard of 3:10.40. Alabama led the way in 3:07.29, followed by Washington (3:07.86), Illinois (3:08.40), Oral Roberts (3:08.52), Villanova (3:09.59) and Notre Dame (3:10.31).
**THE WOMEN’S 4×400 RELAY WAS NOT HELD**
Women’s Triple Jump
A leap of 12.99 meters (42 feet, 7 1/2 inches) won the event for April Williams of Toledo, who provisionally qualified for the NCAA meet with that performance. Williams’ performance was the only NCAA qualifying outing of the event. Crystal Manning of Kansas was second with a leap of 12.64 (41-5¾) and Cassandra Strickland of California was third at 12.61 (41-4½). Cassie Gullickson of Notre Dame was sixth with a leap of 11.99 (39-4).
Men’s Triple Jump
Indiana’s Rick Bellford won the triple jump with a leap of 15.55 meters (51-0¼), achieving an NCAA provisional qualifying mark with the performance. Mark Dzradosi of the Indiana Invaders Track Club was second with a leap of 15.53 (50-11½). Louisville’s Andre Black was third at 15.20 (49-10½).
Women’s Shot Put
All three finalists fell short of the NCAA qualifying standards. Ohio State’s Veronica Jatsek won the event with a throw of 14.92 meters (48 feet, 11½ inches). Janine Zylinski of Ohio State was second with a toss of 14.46 (47-5¼) and Kent State’s LeVania Henderson was third at 14.44 (47-4½).
Men’s Shot Put
With a toss of 18.92 meters (62 feet, 1 inch), Ryan Ketchum of Indiana won the men’s shot put. Justin Clickett of Pittsburgh was second at 18.69 (61-4) with Drew Traub of Indiana State third at 17.84 (58-6½). The top three finishers achieved NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
Men’s High Jump
USATF National Indoor champion Adam Shunk, competing for Nike, was the top finisher overall with a clearance of 2.20 meters (7-2½) as he went through a final warm-up for next week’s World Indoor Championships in Moscow, Russia. The top collegiate finisher was Georgia Tech’s Jerome Miller, who cleared 2.17 (7-1½) to eclipse the NCAA provisional qualifying standard, the only jumper to do so. Tone Belt of Louisville also cleared seven feet, going 2.14 (7-0¼) while placing third overall. Notre Dame’s Blair Majcina was eighth with a clearance of 2.01 (6-7).
Women’s Pole Vault
Miami of Ohio’s Sarah Landau outlasted Notre Dame freshman Mary Saxer, winning with a clearance of 4.02 meters (13-2¼) to provisionally qualify for the NCAA meet. Saxer’s 3.92 (12-10 ¼) clearance was good for second, but did not meet the qualifying standard. Rachel Greff of Rice matched Saxer’s 3.92 clearance, but was third on misses.