Kerry Meagher's 4:16.37 in the women's 1500 meter prelims eclipsed her former PR by half a second.

Irish Qualify 4 Athletes For Upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track Championships

May 28, 2005

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Four University of Notre Dame track and field athletes qualified for spots in the upcoming NCAA track championships with impressive performances Saturday at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track & Field Championships at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Three Irish females and one Notre Dame male will finished among the top five in their respective events to advance to the national meet. The top five finishers in each event earned automatic spots in the field of competitors for the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to be held June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.

A second place finish in the high jump by Emily Loomis led the women. A senior from Fort Wayne, Loomis finished in a multiple tie for second in the event with a clearance of 1.76 meters (5 feet, 9 ¼ inches). In the women’s 5,000 meters, junior Stephanie Madia (Wexler, Pa.) advanced with a fourth place finish in a time of 16 minutes, 23.78 seconds. The other women’s qualifier was senior Kerry Meagher (Allentown, Pa.) in the 1,500 meters. Meagher finished fifth in a time of 4:25.53.

Senior hurdler Selim Nurudeen (Friendswood, Texas) was the lone Irish qualifier for the NCAA meet. The Texan made the field for the NCAA meet with a fourth place finish in the 110-meter high hurdles, breaking the tape in a time of 13.88 seconds.

In the team standings, the Irish women placed 12th with 22.83 points. Tennessee took the team title with 82 points, followed by LSU (58), Michigan (42.5) and Arkansas (40). In the men’s team race, Notre Dame finished tied for 31st with five points. Arkansas won the men’s team title with 94.5 points, followed by Auburn (58), LSU (50) and Wisconsin (49).

Here’s a complete list of Notre Dame performances (finals only) at the 2005 NCAA Mideast Regional Track & Field Championships (**indicates NCAA meet qualifier):

Friday, May 27Men1,500 Meters - Eric Morrison, 3:49.71Discus - Garet Koxlien, 47.54m (156-0)
Saturday, May 28, 2005Men5,000 Meters - Tim Moore, 14:20.685,000 Meters - Sean O'Donnell, 14:27.98Hammer Throw - Chip Roberts, 56.08m (184-0)Hammer Throw - Kyle Annen, 53.96m (177-0)110-Meter High Hurdles - Selim Nurudeen, 13.88**3,000-Meter Steeplechase - Jake Watson, 9:07.403,000-Meter Steeplechase - Todd Ptacek, 9:12.173,000-Meter Steeplechase - Ryan Johnson, 9:27.94
Women5,000 Meters - Stephanie Madia, 16:23.78**High Jump - Emily Loomis, 1.76m (5-9 ¼)**Javelin - Kate Duman, 43.29m (142-0)Shot Put - Meghan Horn, 13.57m (44-6 ¼)1,500 Meters - Kerry Meagher, 4:25.53**400 Meters - Okechi Ogbuokiri, 54.66100 Meters - Maryann Erigha, 13.08200 Meters - Maryann Erigha, 25.333,000-Meter Steeplechase - Katie DeRusso, 10:41.49

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