Four Track And Field Performers Head To Grand Valley Big Meet Friday

Feb. 7, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Four members of the University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field program return to Allendale, Mich., Friday to compete in the Grand Valley Big Meet at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

Representing the men’s side will be Jarod Buchanon, Aaron Dunn and Bryce Wood, while Aijah Urssery will represent the women. The foursome will use the meet as final practice for next weekend’s BIG EAST Championships.

To date, 66 (29 men, 37 women) Notre Dame roster members have already qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in their respective events.

The Irish held their own in the home meet last weekend producing seven event victories and setting three new school records as they welcomed in some of the nation’s best to compete in the Meyo Invitational.

Michael Clevenger (5,000m – 14:26.98), Megan Yanik (500m – 1:13.32), Ann Polcari (Pole Vault – 4.00m), Walter Schafer (3,000m – 8:23.17), Rebecca Tracy (Meyo Mile – 4:39.52) and Patrick Feeney (400m – 46.13) all captured an individual event victory.

Brendan Dougherty, Chris Giesting, Jarrod Buchanon and Feeney contributed towards a top finish in the 4x400m relay with a winning time of 3:09.93.

Jade Barber (8.26 – 60m hurdles), Feeney (46.13 – 400m) and Danielle Aragon (2:07.58 – 800m) each set a new standard in the Irish record books.

The trip to Grand Valley is the second of the season for the Irish as they also competed in the Bob Eubanks Open Jan. 11-12.

Following Friday’s meet, Notre Dame will travel to Geneva, Ohio to participate in the BIG EAST Championships Feb. 16-17.

NCAA Rankings (Top 50)

Men

400m – Patrick Feeney (2^nd), Chris Giesting (11^th)

5,000m – Michael Clevenger (35^th), Jake Kildoo (39^th)

4x400m Relay – Dougherty, Giesting, Buchanon, Feeney (12^th)

Weight Throw – Anthony Thomas (49^th)

Heptathlon – Ted Glasnow (48^th)

Women

400m – Michelle Brown (40^th), Margaret Bamgbose (46^th)

800m – Danielle Aragon (17^th)

Mile – Rebecca Tracy (9^th)

60mH – Jade Barber (11^th), Nevada Sorenson (16^th), Kaila Barber (21^st)

4x400m Relay – Barber, Brown, Yanik, Bamgbose (18^th)

Pole Vault – Ann Polcari (25^th)

Long Jump – Kaila Barber (18^th)

Triple Jump – Mary Esther Gourdin (22^nd)

Pentathlon – Carly Loeffel (38^th)

Men’s BIG EAST Qualifiers (By Event – Relays Not Included)

60m – Patrick Feeney, Keith Mesidor

200m – Patrick Feeney, Chris Giesting, Keith Mesidor

400m – Patrick Feeney, Chris Giesting, Brendan Dougherty, Aaron Dunn

500m – Chris Giesting, Brendan Dougherty

800m – Eric Gebeke, Steve Blazer, Chris Giesting, Eddy Gibbons, Jack Favorite, Spencer Rheinhardt

1,000m – Kevin Byrne, Steve Blazer

Mile – DJ Thornton, Michael Clevenger

3,000m – Jake Kildoo, Jeff MacMillan, Walter Schafer, Michael Clevenger

5,000m – Michael Clevenger, Jake Kildoo, Martin Grady, Jeff MacMillan, Walter Schafer

60m Hurdles – Jarrod Buchanon, Bryce Wood

Pole Vault – David Schipper, Patrick Krach, Dean Odegard, Ted Glasnow

Long Jump – Keith Mesidor, Logan Renwick, Ted Glasnow

Triple Jump – Logan Renwick

Shot Put – Andrew Brock

Weight Throw – Anthony Thomas, Jordan Stumph, Dominick Padovano

Heptathlon – Ted Glasnow, Dean Odegard, Brent Swanberg

Women’s BIG EAST Qualifiers (By Event – Relays Not Included)

60m – Kaila Barber, Jade Barber, Aijah Urssery

200m – Kaila Barber, Margaret Bamgbose, Jaclyn Winkel, Megan Yanik, Jade Barber, Amber Lalla

400m – Michelle Brown, Margaret Bamgbose, Jaclyn Winkel, Megan Yanik, Jade Barber, Amber Lalla

500m – Megan Yanik, Jaclyn Winkel, Amber Lalla

800m – Danielle Aragon, Kelly Curran, Angela Ryck, McKinzie Schulz, Sydni Meunier, Kaileen Healy, Kelsey Amarosa

1,000m – McKinzie Schulz, Danielle Aragon, Angela Ryck, Kelly Curran, Sydni Meunier, Emily Frydrych

Mile – Rebecca Tracy, Alexa Aragon, Kelly Curran, McKinzie Schulz, Sydni Meunier

3,000m – Alexa Aragon, Meg Ryan, Rebecca Tracy, Kelly Curran, McKinzie Schulz

5,000m – Jessica Rydberg, Gabby Gonzales

60m Hurdles – Jade Barber, Nevada Sorenson, Kaila Barber, Meghan Moore, Carly Loeffel

High Jump – Kendra Jennings, Carly Loeffel

Pole Vault – Ann Polcari, Kelly Burke, Kayla Polcari, Chrissy Finkel

Long Jump – Kaila Barber, Jessie Christian, Carly Loeffel, Meghan Moore

Triple Jump – Mary Esther Gourdin, Jessie Christian

Shot Put – Emily Morris, Madeline Casanova, Emily Kujawski

Weight Throw – Vivien Devaney, Madeline Casanova, Ihuoma Nwaogwugwu, Emily Morris, Lena Madison

Pentathlon – Carly Loeffel, Meghan Moore

Men’s BIG EAST Qualifiers (By Person – Relays Not Included)

Steve Blazer – 800m, 1,000m

Andrew Brock – Shot Put

Kevin Byrne – 1,000m

Jarrod Buchanon – 60m Hurdles

Michael Clevenger – Mile, 3,000m, 5,000m

Brendan Dougherty – 400m, 500m

Aaron Dunn – 400m

Jack Favorite – 800m

Patrick Feeney – 60m, 200m, 400m

Eric Gebeke – 800m

Eddy Gibbons – 800m

Chris Giesting – 200m, 400m, 500m, 800m

Ted Glasnow – Pole Vault, Long Jump, Heptathlon

Martin Grady – 5,000m

Jake Kildoo – 3,000m, 5,000m

Patrick Krach – Pole Vault

Jeff MacMillan – 3,000m, 5,000m

Keith Mesidor – 60m, 200m, Long Jump

Dean Odegard – Pole Vault, Heptathlon

Dominick Padovano – Weight Throw

Logan Renwick – Long Jump, Triple Jump

Spencer Rheinhardt – 800m

Walter Schafer – 3,000m, 5,000m

David Schipper – Pole Vault

Jordan Stumph – Weight Throw

Brent Swanberg

Anthony Thomas – Weight Throw

DJ Thornton – Mile

Bryce Wood – 60m Hurdles

Women’s BIG EAST Qualifiers (By Person – Relays Not Included)

Kelsey Amarosa – 800m

Alexa Aragon – Mile, 3,000m

Danielle Aragon – 800m, 1,000m

Margaret Bamgbose – 200m, 400m

Jade Barber – 60m, 200m, 400m, 60m Hurdles

Kaila Barber – 60m, 200m, Long Jump

Michelle Brown – 400m

Kelly Burke – Pole Vault

Madeline Casanova, Weight Throw

Jessie Christian – Long Jump, Triple Jump

Kelly Curran – 800m, 1,000m, Mile, 3,000m

Vivien Devaney – Weight Throw

Chrissy Finkel – Pole Vault

Emily Frydrych – 1,000m

Gabby Gonzales – 5,000m

Mary Esther Gourdin – Triple Jump

Kaileen Healy – 800m

Kendra Jennings – High Jump

Emily Kujawski – Shot Put

Amber Lalla – 200m, 400m, 500m

Carly Loeffel – 60m Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Pentathlon

Lena Madison – Weight Throw

Sydni Meunier – 800m, 1,000m, Mile

Meghan Moore – 60m Hurdles, Long Jump, Pentathlon

Emily Morris – Shot Put, Weight Throw

Ihuoma Nwaogwugwu – Weight Throw

Ann Polcari – Pole Vault

Kayla Polcari – Pole Vault

Meg Ryan – 3,000m

Angela Ryck – 800m, 1,000m

Jessica Rydberg – 5,000m

McKinzie Schulz – 800m, 1,000m, Mile, 3,000m

Nevada Sorenson – 60m Hurdles

Rebecca Tracy – Mile, 3,000m

Aijah Urssery – 60m

Jaclyn Winkel – 200m, 400m, 500m

Megan Yanik – 200m, 400m, 500m

–ND–