Feb. 20, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame track & field program will host its final meet this weekend when it welcomes athletes representing 44 schools to the annual Alex Wilson Invitational inside the Loftus Sports Center.
Named for Irish 1930s track & field star and a two-time Olympian for Canada, the Alex Wilson Invitational represents the final meet before next week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in Blacksburg, Virginia, and the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“For our elite kids who we think are going to go to nationals, we’re going to have them compete and run their races fresh,” head coach Alan Turner said. “For those who aren’t going to nationals, it’s a last opportunity for them to get a qualifying mark for ACCs and get a better seed time, which will make their qualifying heat a little easier for them.”
Turner is particularly interested in seeing the women’s distance medley relay team, consisting of Danielle Aragon, Molly Seidel, Margaret Bamgbose and Jessica Harris, compete for the first time in the pursuit of NCAA qualifying time. The group has not yet run together in the event, but Seidel, Bamgbose and Harris have all broken school records in their individual events this season, and Aragon is a two-time All-American in the DMR.
At last season’s meet, the Irish set three school records, including current senior Chris Giesting’s standard in the 400 meters (a record he has since broken again). The Irish men’s 4×400-meter relay team (Giesting, Harvey Smith, Jarrod Buchanan ’14 and Patrick Feeney ’14) also set a new school mark, and graduated senior Vivien Devaney threw for 19.60 meters in the weight throw. This season, the Irish have set a school indoor record in all but one competition.
The Alex Wilson Invitational will begin at 11 a.m. ET Saturday at the Loftus Sports Center. The meet will be streamed live on Flotrack, and live results will also be available. For the latest updates on Irish track & field, follow @NDXCTF on Twitter and like Notre Dame Cross Country/Track & Field on Facebook.
Joanne Norell, Media Relations Assistant
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