Feb. 22, 2008
NEW YORK – The Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams are sending one of its highest number of student athletes to the 2008 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships to be held at the Armory on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24. The Irish had over 60 athletes qualify, with 61 traveling to the championship. The women enter the competition after taking second at last year’s championship while the men return to defend their championship performance of a year ago.
On the men’s side, John Cavanaugh heads into the BIG EAST competition leading the conference in the 800-meter run. His time of 1:50.66 which was recorded on Feb. 1 at the Indiana Relays is the best recorded in the conference.
Justin Schneider is the BIG EAST leader in the heptathlon. Just a freshman, Schneider holds a personal record of 5,034 points, which he recorded at the Akron Open. His score is over 200 points higher than Tom Sage of Marquette who has the second best score with 4,825 points.
Alyissa Hasan holds the top score in the pentathlon on the women’s side of the competition. Her score of 3,939 leads the conference after she recorded the career best at the Akron Open as well. Her score is also the 12th best in the nation in collegiate action.
With her distances getting further every meet, Anna Weber notches a top spot in the weight throw. Her top throw of 2008, 63-7 ½, is less than two feet short of Jere’ Summers of Louisville who holds the top throw with a distance of 65-2 ¼.
Competition begins on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 8 a.m. with multi-events competition. Prelims for track and field events begin at noon with the 60-meter hurdles. Sunday’s action will again begin at 8 a.m. with multi-events competition and follow up with field events starting at 9 a.m. with the men’s and women’s high jump and track events starting at 11:20 a.m. with the 1,000-meter run.
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