April 6, 2014
STANFORD, Calif. — The University of Notre Dame track and field teams gave some of the best performances in the country this weekend as they competed at the Stanford Invitational. Eight Irish athletes posted times that ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA so far this outdoor season.
“It’s really exciting to know that these kids are national class,” said head coach Joe Piane. “It’s encouraging when it comes to getting ready for the ACC meet, which is only two weeks away.”
In the men’s 400m, Patrick Feeney currently ranks second in the country with his time this weekend of 45.56. Chris Giesting is not far behind him, nationally in fourth place with a time of 45.62. J.P. Malette’s performance of 3:43.03 also puts him in third nationally in the men’s 1,500m.
The top highlight of the weekend came in graduate student Nick Happe’s 5,000m race. With his time of 13:43.55, Happe currently holds the top spot in the NCAA this season. After competing during his undergraduate years at Arizona State, Happe came to Notre Dame for law school and to compete in his final year of eligibility. Piane could not be more pleased with what Happe has brought to the team.
“He’s been great,” Piane explained. “Not only has he done really well at the indoor ACC meet and now in outdoor season, but he’s also a marvelous teammate. He trains really hard, and he’s stepped up the level of some of these guys’ training.”
On the women’s side, Margaret Bamgbose ranked fifth nationally in the 400m with a time of 52.74 after this weekend. Behind her is Michelle Brown, sitting in seventh place (52.76). Jade Barber won the women’s 100m hurdles at the Stanford Invitational, her time of 13.13 putting her at eighth in the country so far this season. In the 3,000m steeplechase, Alexa Aragon also currently ranked sixth in the country at 10:14.29.
Before the Irish head to ACCs, they will travel to Louisville, Ky., this weekend for the Border Battle.
–Lauren Chval, Media Relations Assistant
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