Feb. 21, 2009
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Notre Dame men’s track and field team is in second place, while the women are in third after the first day of competition at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships Saturday.
Pole vaulters Matt Schipper and Mary Saxer successfully defended their titles as they both took the top spot in their events. Schipper cleared the bar at 5.35m (17-6 1/2), while Saxer set an NCAA automatic qualifying mark with her vault of 4.20m (13-9 1/4).
Louisville leads the men’s team standings after day one with 51 points. Notre Dame is second with 49 points and Connecticut is third with 26.50 points.
Cincinnati sits atop the women’s team leaderboard with 32 points, followed by Louisville in second with 29 points and Notre Dame in third with 28 points.
Women’s 5000m: Heidi Rocha finished 12th with a time of 16:55.61, followed by Beth Tacl in 15th at 17:07.77 and Theresa Cattuna in 17th with a time of 17:30.26.
Men’s 5000m: Patrick Smyth earned all-BIG EAST honors, finishing second with a tie of 13:59.01. Dan Jackson finished fifth in 14:26.77 and Ryan Jacobs was 10th with a time of 14:30.67.
Women’s Weight Throw: Anna Weber garnered an all-BIG EAST nod, finishing third with a throw of 19.50m.
Men’s Weight Throw: Greg Davis finished second with a mark of 18.76m, earning all-conference honors. Jeff Mensch finished fourth at 18.24m, Mitchell Gormley was 10th at 16.74m, and John Belcher finished 17th with a toss of 15.34m.
Men’s Long Jump: Eric Quick finished seventh with a jump of 7.40m.
Women’s Pole Vault: Mary Saxer earned all-BIG EAST honors and finished first with a vault of 4.20m. Jessica Sullivan finished 10th with a mark of 3.45m.
Men’s Pole Vault: Matt Schipper took first with a vault of 5.35m. Kevin Schipper finished second at 5.10m, Jim Merchun was 11th with a mark of 4.50m and Brian Mahon finished 12th at 4.50m. Both Matt and Kevin Schipper earned all-league honors.
–ND–