March 7, 2003
The first day of the Alex Wilson Invitational is in the record books, and in keeping with meet tradition, the distance medley relay ended up as the highlight of Friday evening’s festivities. Eastern Michigan came away with a victory in 9:36.98, but the team from Minnesota 9:38.30 and Notre Dame (9:38.40) were right with them. All three teams were under the automatic qualifying time for the NCAA indoor championship in Fayetteville, Ark., next weekend.
The Irish group of sophomore Eric Morrison, freshman Ryan Postel, freshman Thomas Chamney and senior Luke Watson set a school record with their 9:38.40 effort. Watson has now qualified for three events for the NCAA meet, and will most likely be replaced in the relay when the team makes the trip to Arkansas.
Notre Dame did have two individual event winners on the evening. Seniors Jaime Volkmer and Tameisha King won their last home indoor events, as Volkmer cleared 3.95m in the pole vault and King jumped 6.10m in the long jump. King will have a place in the NCAA Championship next weekend, while Volkmer will have to wait and see if her BIG EAST Championship 4.00m effort from last weekend will make the national championship field.
Other event winners included Scott Hecht (Purdue) in the weight throw (20.28m), Amy Moses (Texas-Pan American) in the women’s weight throw (19.84m), Jamar Green (Purdue) in the men’s long jump (7.07m), Anne Bersagel (Wake Forest) in the women’s 5,000 meters and Tom Chorny (Unattached) in the men’s 5,000 meters (14:10.08).
The competition begins again on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (running events begin at noon).