Jan. 22, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field team begin their quests for the 2003 BIG EAST Championship on Friday evening when they host Western Michigan and Ball State during a Tri-Meet in the Loftus Sports Center. The action begins at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s long jump. The running events will start at 7:00 p.m. with the women’s 500 meters.
GUGLIELMINO FAMILY ATHLETIC COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION AFFECTS TRAFFIC AND ACCESS LOFTUS CENTER:
Track and field fans accustomed to catching the Irish in action in the Loftus Center will find some parking and traffic changes awaiting them on campus. The Guglielmino Family Athletic Complex construction has begun in front of the Loftus Sports Center and the parking and access to Meyo Field has been changed.
All fans will need to park in Notre Dame’s C1 parking lot directly south of the Joyce Center. Be prepared for a long walk to access Loftus Center, which can be found just north of Cartier Field and Moose Krause Stadium. There is no parking available in front of Loftus or behind the Joyce Center for those attending the track and field meet.
Admission to all Notre Dame track and field events is free.
IRISH READY TO PUT FULL ROSTER IN ACTION:
Both the men’s and women’s teams boast 47 BIG EAST Championship qualifying marks combined entering Friday evening’s meet – and both squads have yet to put their entire roster into action.
Notre Dame made the trip to Central Michigan last weekend, but did not enter any of its talented distance group athletes. Many of those runners will see their first significant action of the indoor season vs. Western Michigan and Ball State.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Even though the indoor season is just in its infancy, the Irish have been able to post some solid performances thus far. Junior Selim Nurudeen, the two-time defending BIG EAST 110-meter champion, began his quest for the 60-meter hurdle indoor title with a solid 7.90 effort at Central Michigan last weekend. That time puts the Friendswood, Texas, native on the NCAA Championship watch list as a “B” qualification time. The NCAA Championship works on both an automatic system (the 60-meter auto time is 7.70), but if not enough athletes reach that mark, “B” qualification times are considered. Nurudeen will continue to pursue the NCAA automatic time the rest of the season.
On the women’s side, sophomore Stacey Cowan has developed into one of the best high jumpers in the Midwest. After competing in the outdoor NCAA Mideast Regional last season and moving on to the NCAA Championship, she is looking to make the national indoor meet for the first time in her career this season. Cowan cleared 1.78m in the high jump at Central Michigan last weekend for a “B” qualification mark.
Other impressive performances over the initial stages of the indoor season:
* Senior Juan Alba and junior Chip Roberts both posted personal bests in the weight throw at Central Michigan – their first action of the season. Alba tossed the weight 16.96m, while Roberts reached 16.59m. Both qualified for the BIG EAST Championship as well. Alba just missed a BIG EAST qualification in the shot put, posting a 14.99m effort last weekend. The BIG EAST mark to reach is 15.00m.
* Freshman Maryann Erigha has made an immediate impact on the Irish women’s sprint corps, qualifying for the BIG EAST in the 60 meters (7.55) and 200 meters (24.65) – both efforts are the best on the team so far this season.
* Senior team captain Tiffany Gunn ran well at Central Michigan last weekend in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the preliminaries and final (8.68). Gunn has already qualified for the BIG EAST Championship in the 500 meters.
* Freshman Cassie Gullickson might be able to combine with sophomore Stacey Cowan to give the Irish two of the top multi event performers in the BIG EAST Conference. Cowan finished fourth in the pentathlon last season, but moved to earn all-conference honors in the heptathlon during the outdoor season. Gullickson has qualified for the ’04 BIG EAST indoor meet in both the high jump and triple jump. Both athletes have been working on their other events so far this season as well.
* Sophomore Ryan Postel looks ready to take a giant step forward during his second season with the Irish. At the Blue and Gold Invitational back in December, Postel posted a 21.68 effort in the 200 meters and a 47.84 mark in the 400 meters. The 47.84 mark is an NCAA “B” qualification time. Postel earned all-BIG EAST honors on two relay teams last year (4×400 indoor, 4×100 outdoor) and look to be in fine form for an individual certificate this season.
LOOKING FOR RESULTS?:
Full results of Friday night’s action will be posted on www.und.com as soon as possible after conclusion of the meet. Participating teams will have complete results faxed to their respective sports information offices after the meet as well.