Jan. 16, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams began the 2004 portion of their indoor schedule on Friday evening at Central Michigan, taking on the host Chippewas, Michigan State and Western Michigan in a non-team scoring meet.
The Irish represented themselves well at the competition, putting up 17 BIG EAST Championship qualifying times/marks and two NCAA consideration times.
Junior Selim Nurudeen posted his best effort of the young season in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing the preliminaries in 7.90 – an NCAA “B” qualifying time. The effort puts Nurudeen in consideration for selection to the NCAA Championship in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 12 & 13, and puts the 7.70 automatic time clearly in his sights for the rest of the season. Nurudeen won the final race in 8.02, followed by teammate Mark Barber in second place (8.76).
The women’s top effort was provided by sophomore Stacey Cowan who cleared 1.78m (5-10) in the high jump to win the competition and also post an NCAA consideration time. The automatic height is in reach at 1.84m.
Other event winners for the women’s team included senior Kristen Dodd in the 200 meters (25.06) – Dodd was followed by teammates freshman Maryann Erigha (25.16) and junior Ayesha Boyd (25.48) in second and third place – and Tiffany Gunn in the 400 meters (56.84) and 60-meter hurdles (8.68).
For the men’s team, junior Trevor McClain-Duer won the 400 meters (48.93) and qualified for the BIG EAST Championship, along with teammate sophomore Ryan Postel (48.94) in second place. Junior Ryan Mineburg won the high jump (2.07m, 6-9 1/2), clearing the same height as second-place teammate Chris Staron. Senior Godwin Mbagwu was a double winner, taking first in the long jump (7.00m) and triple jump (15.11m).
Other notable performances for both Irish teams included senior Juan Alba (16.96m) and junior Chip Roberts (16.59m) qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship in the weight throw and freshman Cassie Gullickson qualifying for the conference meet in the triple jump (11.38m).