Jan. 29, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams continue the 2004 indoor season this weekend when the squads play host to the Notre Dame Invitational in the Loftus Sports Center. Butler, DePaul, Marquette and Michigan State will join the Irish in competition on Friday evening with field events beginning at 6 p.m. and running events at 7 p.m.
The Notre Dame Invitational is the second of three consecutive weekends with track and field action on campus. Last Friday, the Irish entertained DePaul, Western Michigan, Ball State and Loyola Chicago in a non-scoring event. Next weekend, the Meyo Invitational is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7. The Meyo Invitational has developed into one of the top indoor events of the season in the Midwest and was the scene for a legendary Meyo Mile last season (won by Notre Dame’s Luke Watson in a school-record 3:57.83).
The Notre Dame squads have participated in three indoor events so far this season. The Irish hosted the Blue and Gold Invitational back on Dec. 11, 2004, giving the teams a chance to race competitively before breaking for the holidays. The 2004 campaign began at the Central Michigan Invitational on Jan. 16, then followed with the Notre Dame Indoor Opener last weekend.
The 2004 BIG EAST Indoor Championship, held in Syracuse, N.Y., at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 21-22, is starting to take shape as teams across the conference start developing into form. The Irish women have 22 times/marks ranked in the top 10 of the latest BIG EAST qualification rankings. The men boast 28 such performances so far this season.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG EAST TOP PERFORMANCES:
The BIG EAST indoor top performances list can be found on www.BIGEAST.org. The Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams boast 50 times/marks ranked in the top 10 in the conference so far (as of Jan. 29).
Among the best of the best performances for Notre Dame this season –
* Junior Selim Nurudeen is hoping to add an indoor BIG EAST title to his two 110-meter hurdle outdoor trophies earned in his first two seasons with the Irish. Nurudeen currently leads the way in the conference for the 60-meter hurdles, posting a 7.90 effort at Central Michigan. That time also puts Nurudeen 12th on the latest NCAA descending order list.
* Sophomore Stacey Cowan cleared 1.78m (5-10) at Central Michigan and is currently second on the conference list and 15th on the national descending order list.
* The women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Tiffany Gunn, Ayesha Boyd, Kristen Dodd and Okechi Ogbuokiri hit the track for the first time last weekend during the Indoor Opener and won the event in 3:45.70 – the best time in the BIG EAST so far this year.
* Tiffany Gunn, in addition to her efforts on the 4×400 team, is also ranked in the top 10 in three other events. She is seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (8.68), second in the 500 meters (1:13.41) and ninth in the 400 meters (56.84).
* In the women’s 60 meters, freshman Maryann Erigha is second in the conference with a 7.55 effort from the Blue and Gold Invitational.
* Sophomore Ryan Postel is first on the conference charts in the 400 meters with a 47.84 effort at the Blue & Gold Invitational.
* Senior Godwin Mbagwu is the Irish leader in both the long jump and triple jump this season. His 15.11m measurement from Central Michigan is the best in the conference, while his 7.00m long jump effort that same weekend is ranked fourth.
* Sophomore Thomas Chamney is developing into a middle distance specialist to keep and eye on. Chamney is fourth in the league in the 1,000 meters (2:27.52) and seventh in the 800 meters (1:52.71).
COMING TO CAMPUS FOR THE NOTRE DAME INVITATIONAL THIS WEEKEND?
Notre Dame track and field home meets are held in the Loftus Sports Center on the east side of campus, north of Cartier Field (football practice facility) and Moose Krause Stadium (the outdoor track and lacrosse facility) and northwest of the indoor tennis facility. Due to construction for the Guglielmino Family Athletics Complex, parking and access to the Loftus Sports Center has changed dramatically.
Spectators and officials are required to park in the Joyce Center (Notre Dame’s double-domed building across the street from Notre Dame Stadium) C1 lot, directly south of the ACC. Access to the parking lot is found from Edison Road off SR 23 or Angela Boulevard off US 933. Be prepared for a long walk to the Loftus Sports Center – which can be accessed directly north of Moose Krause Stadium (the outdoor track).
Admission to all Notre Dame home track and field events is free. Media and visiting SIDs do not require a credential for access to meets.
LOOKING FOR RESULTS? Full results from Friday evening’s meet will be posted on www.und.com as soon as possible after the meet ends. Results also will be faxed to the participating teams SID offices as soon as possible.
Notre Dame Invitational
Order of Events
Friday, Jan 31, 2004
Field Events:
6:00 p.m. Men’s long jump, women follow Men’s triple jump, women’s triple jump follow the long jump
6:00 p.m. Women’s weight throw, men follow
6:00 p.m. Women’s pole vault, men follow
7:00 p.m. Men’s high jump, women follow
7:30 p.m. Women’s shot put, men follow
Running Events:
7:00 p.m. Women’s 500 meters
7:05 p.m. Men’s 500 meters
7:15 p.m. Women’s 60 meters
7:20 p.m. Men’s 60 meters
7:35 p.m. Women’s mile
7:50 p.m. Men’s mile
8:05 p.m. Women’s 400 meters
8:10 p.m. Men’s 400 meters
8:25 p.m. Women’s 60-meter hurdles
8:30 p.m. Men’s 60-meter hurdles
8:40 p.m. Women’s 800 meters
8:45 p.m. Men’s 800 meters
8:50 p.m. Women’s 200 meters
9:00 p.m. Men’s 200 meters
9:10 p.m. Women’s 3,000 meters
9:25 p.m. Men’s 3,000 meters
9:40 p.m. Women’s 4×400 relay
9:45 p.m. Men’s 4×400 relay