Jan. 18, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format, including 2001 schedule and top times list.
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WHO:
Notre Dame men’s track and field team, Ball State and Western Michigan.
WHAT:
First meet of the 2001 indoor track and field schedule.
WHERE:
Loftus Sports Complex, Notre Dame, Ind.
WHEN:
Friday, Jan. 19, 6:00 p.m.
Irish begin the drive for first BIG EAST indoor title:
After finishing second at the BIG EAST indoor championship the last four years, Notre Dame is in pursuit of their first indoor team title this season. Led by a strong contingent of distance runners and some talented underclassmen, Notre Dame will be among the contending schools at the conference championship (Feb. 17-18).
The strength of the 2001 Irish team lies in its distance oriented talent. Senior Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.), and juniors Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn.) and Marc Striowski (Toronto, Ontario) are among the top distance specialists in the conference.
Shay should be in top form after recovering from the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he finished 10th in the 10,000 meters. Shay was the only runner in the top 10 who still maintained collegiate eligibility. He also posted the top 5,000-meter time for Notre Dame last indoor season (14:08.31).
Watson is coming off a stellar cross country campaign (he earned All-America status at the 2000 NCAA cross country championship). Watson owns the top returning times in the 3,000 meters (8:09.50) and the mile (4:06.75).
Striowski will provide valuable depth behind Watson and Shay, as he posted top times of 14:26.25 in the 5,000 meters and 8:17.18 in the 3,000 meters last season.
In the sprints, seniors Terry Wray (Brandon, Miss.) and Travis Davey (St. James, NY) will be counted on to produce after the graduation of BIG EAST champion (60 and 400 meters) Chris Cochran. Wray had the second-best 400-meter time (47.66) and the best 500-meter time (1:03.11) last season.
The Irish coaches are excited about two freshman in the hurdle category. Freshmen Napolean Suarez (Brown Mills, NJ) and Mark Barber (Laingsburg, Mich.) should be instant contributors in the 100- and 200-meter hurdles.
In the field events, Notre Dame returns its top triple jump specialist in junior Quill Redwine (San Antonio, Texas) and its top pole vaulter, junior Josh Heck (Mishawaka, Ind.). Redwine is poised for a break-out year in both the triple jump and the long jump to ease the graduation loss of All-American Marshaun West.
Heck will combine with sophomore Nathan Cahill (East Lansing, Mich.) to lead the pole vault group on the Irish roster.
The throws group will be led by junior Derek Dyer (Huntington, Ind.) and senior John Scolaro (Lake Forest, Ill.). Dyer posted the top shot put mark of the 2000 indoor season (50-10 1/4) and improved throughout the outdoor season as well. Scolaro had a 50-6 3/4 shot put measurement in the 2000 indoor season.
The first meet of the indoor season is Friday, Jan. 19, at 6:00 p.m. in the Loftus Sports Complex when Notre Dame competes against Ball State and Western Michigan.
Results will be available on www.und.com.