April 12, 2003
Mission accomplished for the University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the Tom Botts Invitational (Univ. of Missouri) on Friday night and Saturday. Both Irish teams came away with a combined 58 BIG EAST qualifications and eight NCAA regional meet marks.
Out of the 58 BIG EAST qualifying efforts, 37 the first qualification marks of the season for the particular competitor, while nine improved their marks from earlier in the season (see below for a complete breakdown).
Three of the eight regional qualifying marks were new as well. Senior Tameisha King won both the 100-meter hurdles and the long jump (13.61) and (6.37m) to secure a spot in the NCAA Regional Qualifying Meet in Columbus, Ohio, on May 30 and 31.
Indoor All-American Luke Watson began his quest for All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Watson easily won the competition, taking first place in 8:53.07 – 15 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. Teammates Ryan Johnson (third, 9:20.75) and David Alber (fourth, 9:23.72) also qualified for the BIG EAST outdoor meet in the steeplechase.
During the first day of competition late Friday evening, Notre Dame’s distance runners and field event specialists took advantage of the good weather conditions to post some impressive results.
Senior Emily Showman posted a BIG EAST qualifying time in the women’s steeplechase, finishing third in 11:20.57.
The women’s 5,000 meters was held on Friday evening as well and freshman Jean Marinangeli came through for her first collegiate victory in 17:15.42 – a BIG EAST qualifying effort. Stephanie Madia (third, 17:26.79) also qualified for the conference meet.
The men’s throw group competed well in the hammer on Friday evening, as Juan Alba finished second with a 51.36m effort and Chip Roberts took third (50.46m).
In the sprint lane on Saturday, senior Kymia Love is starting to hit her stride, placing second in the 100 meters (11.85) and winning the 200 meters (23.77) – both team-best times this season.
Ayesha Boyd finished third in the 100 meters (11.85) and fifth in the 200 meters. Sophomore Tanya Cheatham also qualified for the BIG EAST meet in the 100 meters (12.26).
Moving up to the 400 meters, Kristen Dodd walked away victorious in 54.63.
The men’s sprint group saw Ryan Postel win the 400 meters (47.97) and flirt with the NCAA regional qualifying time (47.45). Trevor McClain-Duer and James Bracken finished third and fourth, respectively.
The NCAA regional qualifiers continued to roll in the 110-meter hurdles, as sophomore Selim Nurudeen (looking to defend his 2002 BIG EAST outdoor title in the event this season) out-kicked Illinois Andre English to cross first in 14.33. The 400-meter hurdles saw three Irish runners take the top three spots, as Roberto Garcia (53.12), Napolean Suarez (53.30) and Mark Barber (53.70) finished one-two-three respectively and all qualified for the BIG EAST Championship.
The women’s distance group performed well on Saturday, dominating the 1,500 meters. Megan Johnson finished first (4:31.68), with Jennifer Handley second (4:31.72) and Stephanie Madia third (4:33.40). All three runners have shown the ability to make it to the NCAA regional, just missing the qualifying time of 4:31.00.
The men’s distance effort on Saturday was highlighted by freshman Thomas Chamney, who just missed the NCAA regional qualifying time in the 800 meters at the Stanford Invitational two weeks ago, reaching that mark easily with a first-place 1:49.55 time.
Other top efforts for the women’s team included Jaime Volkmer (second in the pole vault – 3.81m, third in the triple jump – 11.87m) and Petra Dankova (second in the triple jump – 11.99m). Freshman Meghan Horn, the lone Irish women’s thrower, qualified for the BIG EAST meet in both the shot put (12.90m, fourth place) and discus (41.85m, fourth place).
The third women’s throw competition on Saturday was highlighted by a trio of Notre Dame athletes. Kate Duman won the javelin with a 40.34m toss, followed by Lauren DellaVolpe (39.15m) and Andre Duplechain (34.23m). Duman extends her own school record with the toss and will join both DellaVolpe and Duplechain in the BIG EAST competition.
Here is a complete breakdown of Notre Dame’s BIG EAST qualifying efforts at the Tom Botts Invitational this weekend:
New qualifiers:
Jean Marinangeli, 5,000 meters, 17:15.42
Stephanie Madia, 5,000 meters, 17:26.79
Emily Showman, steeplechase, 11:20.57
*Tameisha King, long jump, 6.37m
Kymia Love, 100 meters, 11.85
Tanya Cheatham, 100 meters, 12.26
*Tameisha King, 100-meter hurdles, 13.61
Ayesha Boyd, 200 meters, 24.36
Megan Johnson, 1,500 meters, 4:31.68
Jennifer Handley, 1,500 meters, 4:31.72
Stephanie Madia, 1,500 meters, 4:33.40
Elizabeth Webster, 1,500 meters, 4:36.36
Laura Huarte, pole vault, 3.51m
DeeDee Bryant, pole vault, 3.36m
Meghan Horn, discus, 41.85m
Jaime Volkmer, triple jump, 11.87m
Kate Duman, javelin, 40.34m
Lauren DellaVolpe, javelin, 39.15m
Andre Duplechain, javelin, 34.23m
*Luke Watson, steeplechase, 8:53.07
Ryan Johnson, steeplechase, 9:20.75
David Alber, steeplechase, 9:23.72
Chip Roberts, hammer throw, 50.46m
Jason Davis, hammer throw, 48.10m
Brian Thornburg, hammer throw, 47.62m
James Scarborough, 100 meters, 11.04
Eric Morrison, 800 meters, 1:51.18
Vinnie Ambrico, 1,500 meters, 3:51.58
John Keane, 1,500 meters, 3:54.64
Terry Lennon, 1,500 meters, 3:54.76
Sean O’Donnell, 1,500 meters, 3:54.81
Roberto Garcia, 400-meter hurdles, 53.12
Napoleon Suarez, 400-meter hurdles, 53.30
Mark Barber, 400-meter hurdles, 53.70
Scott Kelley, triple jump, 13.46m
Chip Roberts, discus, 45.23m
Dan Porter, javelin, 54.97m
Improved qualifying time/mark from earlier in the season:
Ayesha Boyd, 100 meters, 12.05
Kymia Love, 200 meters, 23.77
Kristen Dodd, 200 meters, 24.48
Petra Dankova, triple jump, 11.99m
Meghan Horn, shot put, 12.90m
Juan Alba, hammer throw, 51.36m
Ryan Hurd, 200 meters, 21.59
Ryan Postel, 400 meters, 47.97
*Thomas Chamney, 800 meters, 1:49.55
Other BIG EAST qualifying efforts, not season-bests:
*Kristen Dodd, 400 meters, 54.63
*Stacey Cowan, high jump, 1.70m
Jennifer Kearney, high jump, 1.60m
*Jaime Volkmer, pole vault, 3.81m
Jill VanWeelden, pole vault, 3.36m
Selim Nurudeen, 110-meter hurdles, 14.33
Mark Barber, 110-meter hurdles, 15.22
*Chris Staron, high jump, 2.07m
Ryan Mineburg, high jump, 1.97m
Godwin Mbagwu, triple jump, 13.77m
Juan Alba, discus, 49.18m
Derek Goguen, javelin, 57.05m
* – indicates NCAA regional qualifying effort