Feb. 24, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame track and field team has a week off before the Alex Wilson Invitational, March 3-4 at the Meyo Track and Field. Both teams competed in the BIG EAST championships last weekend with the men’s team finishing second and the women sixth in the team competition. Both teams also had some outstanding individual times and marks at the BIG EAST meet, which was held at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW: Senior sprinter Chris Cochran (Crystal Lake, Ill.) continued his stellar indoor campaign with two BIG EAST titles in the 60 (6.79) and 400 (47.76)-meter dashes. Fellow senior Marshaun West (Sikeston, Mo.) had an impressive return to competition after competing in only one other meet this season, winning the long jump competition with a leap of 24-7, his second best effort of the season. West also came in second in the 200 meters, running his best time of the year (21.52) and just getting edged out at the finish line by Syracuse’s Adrian Woodley.

Another member of Notre Dame’s strong senior class, Phil Mishka (Toledo, Ohio) set a new school record of 2:22.22 in the 1,000 meters. Mishka finished second in the race to earn all-BIG EAST honors (top three) and post his highest finish ever at the BIG EAST championships. Senior middle-distance specialist Tim Kober (Gillette, N.J.) kept the Irish in contention with his second-place finish in the 800 meters (1:52.13) and a third-place finish in the 500 meters (1:03.76).Other Notre Dame men to earn all-BIG EAST honors included second-place finisher freshman Tom Gilbert (long jump) and third-place honorees sophomores Luke Watson (mile) and Quill Redwine (triple jump), senior Matt Thompson (weight throw) and the 4×800-meter relay team of senior Brian Holinka, freshman Doug Gunzelmann and seniors Antonio Arce and Phil Mishka.

On the women’s side, sophomore sprinter Liz Grow (New Braunfels, Texas) continued to dominate with a win in the 400 meters. Her time of 55.27 gave Grow here first individual BIG EAST title. Grow combined with Carri Lenz (London, Ont.), Amanda Alvarez (Ogden, Utah) and Kymia Love (Memphis, Tenn.) to set a new 4×400 school record time of 3:45.29. The effort earned the team fourth place in the highly competitive BIG EAST field.

Freshman Jamie Volkmer (Kearney, Neb.) continued to improve the Irish team effort in the field events. Volkmer logged a second place in the pole vault, breaking the school record of 11-0, by clearing 11-3 3/4. Volkmer also made her presence known in the triple jump, finishing fourth with a leap of 39-8, which set another school record. Still not finished, Volkmer competed in the high jump finishing fifth by clearing 5-2 1/2. Senior All-American Jennifer Engelhardt (Battle Creek, Mich.) took second place in the high jump (5-9 3/4), earning all-BIG EAST status for the fourth time in her career.

Freshman Tameisha King (Mableton, Ga.) also earned all-BIG EAST honors for her second place effort in the long jump. The 20-4 1/2 measurement set a new school record and is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

2000 All-BIG EAST Indoor Performers

Chris Cochran                   60 Meters (1st), 400 Meters (1st)Jennifer Engelhardt             High Jump (2nd)Tom Gilbert                     Long Jump (2nd)Liz Grow                        400 Meters (1st)Tameisha King                   Long Jump (2nd)Tim Kober                       500 Meters (3rd), 800 Meters (2nd)Phil Mishka                     1000 Meters (2nd)Quill Redwine                   Triple Jump (3rd)Matt Thompson                   Weight Throw (3rd)Jamie Volkmer                   Pole Vault (2nd)Luke Watson                     Mile Run (3rd)Marshaun West                   Long Jump (1st), 200 Meters (2nd)Brian Holinka, Doug Gunzelmann  4X800-meter relay (3rd)Antonio Arce, Phil Mishka