Feb. 1, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Facing elite competition from around the country the University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams turned in 11 top-eight finishes and three event victories on day one of the Meyo Invitational at the Loftus Sports Center.
Earning victories on the first day of competition for the Irish were Ann Polcari (pole vault – 4.00m), Megan Yanik (500m – 1:13.32) and Michael Clevenger (5,000m – 14:26.98).
One school record fell on day one as Jade Barber lowered her sister’s (Kaila Barber) 60m hurdles school record to 8.26 after finishing second in the semifinals to Michigan’s Cindy Ofili (8.26). Barber will chase for the top spot Saturday as the finals are slated to start at 2:50 p.m. (ET).
A pair of meet records fell Friday at the hands of two Indiana State weight throwers. Felisha Johnson broke her own Meyo Invitational record with a hurl of 20.81m. Her record was set last year at the event after the 20 lb. weight flew a distance of 20.69m.
The Sycamores repeated the feat on the men’s side as Brandon Pounds set a new standard with a toss of 22.55m. Christian Cantwell from Missouri held the previous record since 2002 with a distance of 21.32m.
Day two of the meet will open at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with the women’s 3,000m. Live results are available on UND.com.
COMPLETE RESULTS (Top Eight Finishes Only)
MEN’S EVENTS
60m Hurdles Prelims: Notre Dame’s Jarrod Buchanon cleared the five barriers and crossed the line in 8.16 seconds. This time earned him a spot in the evening’s semi-final heats. Jarrod Buchanon finished ninth in 8.11 seconds.
5,000m: This race went out slowly until Fighting Irish runners took the pace around the 3,000m mark. Freshman Michael Clevenger took first place in 14:27, Jake Kildoo was close behind in third place (14:28), Martin Grady placed sixth in 14:32 and Jeff MacMillan took ninth in 14:36.
Weight Throw: Anthony Thomas placed a solid fifth in Friday’s throwing event with an 18.61m toss. Brandon Pounds (Indiana State) set a meet record in this event, throwing the 35 lb. weight 22.55m.
Long Jump: Logan Renwick took seventh in the long jump (7.02m) to close out night one.
WOMEN’S EVENTS
Pole Vault: Ann Polcari pulled away with a first-place finish after clearing the bar at 4.00m. Today’s performance gives her the second best mark in the BIG EAST.
Weight Throw: Vivien Devaney gathered a career best effort finishing sixth after throwing a distance of 17.85m. Felisha Johnson from Indiana State won the event and broke her own Meyo Invitational record with a hurl of 20.81m. She set her previous mark last season with a toss of 20.69m.
High Jump: Kendra Jennings (sixth) and Carly Loeffel (eighth) each cleared the bar at 1.68m.
60m: Aijah Urssery advanced to the semifinals with an 11th place finish with a time of 7.73. Urssery also took 11th in the semifinals (7.74).
60m Hurdles
Prelims: Jade Barber was the top-finisher out of 45 participants in the event matching her sister’s best seasonal mark (Kalia Barber) of 8.32 in the preliminaries. Jade, who currently ranked No. 21 in the nation in the event, moves up to join her sister at No. 17. Nevada Sorenson finished third achieving her best time of the season with an 8.44. The finish moves Sorenson up from No. 46 to No. 35 in the nation. Sorenson and Barber each advanced to the semi-finals.
Semifinals: Jade Barber set a new school record with a time of 8.26. Her sister Kaila Barber previously recorded the record (8.27) on March 3, 2012 at the Alex Wilson Invitational.
1,000m: McKinzie Schulz was just one second shy of a first-place finish, taking second in 2:50.74.
500m: Megan Yanik sprinted toward a first-place finish with a winning time of 1:13.32.
Notre Dame Victories
Ann Polcari (Pole Vault)
Michael Clevenger (5,000m)
Megan Yanik (500m)
Notre Dame Records
Jade Barber (8.26-60m hurdles)
Meet Records
Women’s Weight Throw – Felisha Johnson – Indiana State – 20.81m
Men’s Weight Throw – Brandon Pounds- Indiana State – 22.55m
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