April 5, 2001
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WHO:
Notre Dame, Michigan State, Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio)
WHAT:
First and only home meet of the 2001 season, the Spring Opener
WHERE:
Moose Krause Stadium, Notre Dame, Ind.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m.
Irish continue 2001 outdoor season with their only home meet of the year:
The University of Notre Dame men’s track and field team returns home from a successful first weekend of outdoor competition for the 2001 Spring Opener, Notre Dame’s traditional home track meet to officially kick-off the outdoor season.
The Spring Opener begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 7. Western Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Michigan State will be competing in the meet with the Irish.
Irish begin the outdoor season with some impressive performances:
Notre Dame split into three groups last weekend, and each team enjoyed its share of quality times and marks that rank highly in the BIG EAST Conference. Senior All-American Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) picked up where he left off in the 10,000 meters last season. The Irish distance specialist finished 10th at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters last summer, the only runner in the top 10 who still had collegiate eligibility remaining.
Traveling to the Stanford Invitational last weekend, Shay quickly established himself as one of the contenders for the NCAA 10,000 meter title, taking fourth place in 28:40.03. That is the second-best time in Irish history (behind Shay’s own school record of 28:26.91) and is the best time in the BIG EAST this year.
Shay was not the only Irish runner to post an impressive time in the 10,000. Freshman Todd Mobley (West Bloomfield, Mich.) has the third-best time in the BIG EAST 30:17.38, while senior Sean McManus (Hernando, Calif.) and sophomore Nathan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) are currently ranked fifth and sixth in the conference.
Sean Zanderson (Poway, Calif.) and Kevin Somok (Southburg, Conn.) ran at the Arizona State Invitational last weekend and posted the third (3:53.26) and fourth (3:53.68) best conference times, respectively, in the 1,500 meters.
Senior Travis Davey (St. James, NY) quickly established himself as a contender in the sprint lane at the BIG EASTChampionship. His time in the 100 meters (10.91) is ranked fifth in the conference and he also is second in the 200 meters (21.71). Freshman Napolean Suarez (Brown Mills, NJ) provides the Irish with some talent in the hurdles, as well. Suarez clocked a time of 53.98 at the Purdue Open – a time ranked third in the conference.
The field event athletes also performed well across the board over the first weekend. Junior Quill Redwine (San Antonio, Texas) won the high jump competition at the Purdue Open with a clearance of 6-9 3/4 – the best mark in the conference so far this season. BIG EAST indoor high jump champion Andrew Cooper (Granville, Ohio) was right behind his teammate after competing at the Arizona State Invitational. Cooper’s 6-8 3/4 effort is currently ranked second in the conference.
Pole vaulter Josh Heck (Mishawaka, Ind.) is second in the BIG EAST after clearing 15-11 at the ASU Invite, while Derek Dyer (Huntington, Ind.) is third in the discus after his 164-11 effort last weekend.
Results:
Complete results and a meet recap will be available on the official Notre Dame athletics website: www.und.com.
A look back at the 2000 Spring Opener:
The Irish enjoyed their first and only outdoor home meet of the season, as the team earned 10 event victories. Some of the 2000 winners returning to this year’s competition include: Ryan Shay in the 5,000 meters, Nathan Cahill in the pole vault and Matt O’Brien in the javelin. Quill Redwine placed second in the triple jump last season, while Derek Dyer took third place in the shot put.