Kevin Schipper (pictured) placed first (4.85m) in the pole vault.

Irish Off To Strong Start At NCAA East Regional

May 27, 2010

Complete Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Notre Dame track and field team made the most of its first day in Greensboro, N.C., during opening action at the 2010 NCAA East Regional Championships at the Irwin R. Belk Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T. The Irish placed four student-athletes in the top 10 of their respective events Thursday, led by Kevin Schipper’s sixth-place showing in the pole vault after clearing 5.25m (17-02.75). Schipper entered the meet with the nation’s 31st-best pole vault performance.

The Irish were hitting on all cylinders in the 1,500-meter run as Daniel Clark (3:51.27), Jordan Carlson (3:51.50) and Johnathan Shawel (3:51.55) crossed the line among the top 20 finishers.

Jessica Rydberg went 34:59.24 in the 10,000-meter run to place eighth and Dan Jackson (29:54.24) finished in the same spot in the men’s race.

In the first year of the new regional format, Notre Dame joins all 200 colleges and universities east of the Mississippi in the East Preliminary Round that includes over 2,500 athletes. The top 48 athletes from the region in their respective event were selected to participate in the first round with 12 advancing to the final site. There is no team score this year as the meet will only be used to qualify those specific athletes for the NCAA Championships.

Live results for Friday’s action can be found at NCAA.com. Complete results will be available at UND.com.

Women’s 400m: Joanna Schultz crossed the line in 55.06 for 36th.

Women’s 800m: Coming in 37th was Natalie Johnson (2:11.60), while Kelly Langhans (2:12.12) took 40th.

Men’s 800m: Jack Howard was 15th in 1:49.32.

Women’s 1,500m: Rebecca Tracy (4:23.25) was 17th in the event

Men’s 1,500m: Clark was eighth, followed by Carlson (16th) and Shawel (20th). Jeremy Rae (3:51.89) took 34th in his first regional appearance.

Women’s 10,000m: Rydberg finished in the money by crossing eighth and Erica Watson (37:27.95) was 42nd.

Men’s 10,000m: Jackson tapped in for an eighth-place run.

Women’s 400m Hurdles: Schultz went the distance in 58.61 for 17th.

Women’s Shot Put: Rudy Atang maxed out at 14.83m (48-08.00), which was good for 28th in the standings.

Women’s Javelin Throw: Finishing 12th among the field was Elise Knutzen, who let it ride for 45.22mq (148-04).

Men’s Pole Vault: Schipper finished in a tie for sixth with Purdue’s Eric Sparks.

Men’s Long Jump: Eric Quick leaped 7.10m (23-03.50) for 41st.

Men’s Hammer Throw: An effort of 54.81m (179-10) allowed Greg Davis to claim 36th place.

–ND–