Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Track And Field Competes Across The Country On Saturday

March 29, 2003

The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams spread across the country this weekend in three different directions, and the Irish posted some successful results at all three sites.

Most of the team made the trip to a frigid Western Michigan Invitational in Kalamazoo, Mich. While a number of Irish athletes were on the trip, the cold temperatures (38 degrees) and wind chills in the teens kept many of the Notre Dame entries from competing.

Notre Dame’s throws group, however, shook off the chill to put up BIG EAST Championship and NCAA regional meet qualifications. Junior Juan Alba enjoyed one of the best days of his career, qualifying for the NCAA regional meet with a 50.77m (166-07) effort in the discus. Alba finished second in the competition and easily qualifies for the conference meet as well. He also qualified for the BIG EAST meet in the hammer throw with a 50.00m (164-00), eighth-place effort.

On the women’s side, freshman Megan Horn qualified for the BIG EAST meet with a second-place 12.80m (42-0) toss in the shot put.

Junior Mark Barber joined Alba and Horn by qualifying for the conference meet in the 110-meter hurdles. Barber finished third in 14.99.

Out in Palo Alto at the Stanford Invitational late Friday night, three Irish distance specialists were in action. Freshman Vinnie Ambrico made a great run at an NCAA regional qualifier in the 1,500 meters, but fell just short by finishing in 3:51.73 (he took eighth place in the B section).

Senior John Keane came through with his own NCAA regional qualifying effort in the 5,000 meters, taking third place in section two (14:16.53). Both Keane and Ambrico qualified for the BIG EAST outdoor meet.

The women’s team was represented by Ana Morales in the 1,500 meters. Morales finished 32nd in 4:48.82.

Down in Florida at the University of Florida Relays, the women’s 4×100-meter relay team came through with an NCAA qualification effort. Tameisha King, Kristen Dodd, Kymia Love and Ayesha Boyd (All-Americans a year ago) finished fifth in section one in 45.18. With the combination of section one and two determining the final position, the Irish also finished fifth overall.

Notre Dame’s late results from the Stanford Invitational on Saturday night will be posted on Sunday.