Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Track and Field Teams Tune Up for BIG EAST Meet at Drake and Purdue

April 26, 2003

The Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s track and field teams sent four competitors to the Drake Relays on Saturday, while the rest of the team attended the Purdue Invitational and prepped for the BIG EAST Championship meet next weekend at the University of Connecticut.

Freshman Thomas Chamney, who will likely be the top men’s entry in the 800 meters next weekend, was the top finisher for Notre Dame at the Drake relays, capturing fifth place in the 800 meters with a time of 1:51.97. The only other member of the men’s team competing was sophomore Selim Nurudeen, the sixth place finisher in the men’s 110-meter hurdles (14.19). Nurudeen will be looking to defend his BIG EAST title in the same event next week.

For the women, the only event in which the Irish had an entry was the 1,500 meters. Freshman Stephanie Madia finished 11th in a time of 4:32.46, and was followed by her teammate, Kerry Meagher, who placed 16th with a time of 4:35.35.

In West Lafayette, freshman Meghan Horn, freshman Stacey Cowan and junior Mark Barber each posted an Irish victory. Barber won the men’s 400-meter hurdles and and a season best for the second straight week with a time of 53.32. Cowan ran her first 100-meter hurdle race of the year and won it with a time of 14.67, good for a BIG EAST qualification. Horn won the women’s shot put with a throw of 13.60m.

Junior high jumper Jennifer Kearney took second place in that event clearing a height of 1.65 meters. Meghan Horn also placed second in the women’s discus to her win in the shot put with an effort of 43.13m, improving on her previous season best of 41.85m.

Freshman Elizabeth Webster added a third place finish for the Irish in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:44.11.

Other top finishers among the Notre Dame women included Rose Brakel-Pierce, who finished fourth and qualified for the BIG EAST Championship in her season’s first 400-meter dash (58.64). Stacey Cowan, who placed fifth in the long jump (5.37m). Junior Mellissa Schmidt took fifth place in the 5,000 meters (18:27.41). Freshman Tanya Cheatham was the fifth place finisher in the 100-meter dash (12.30).

In men’s action, Junior thrower Juan Alba posted a second place finish in the men’s hammer throw with a toss of 54.17m, improving on his season-best effort by a meter and a half.

Junior Ryan Hurd crossed the finish line in 21.83 to take third place in the 200-meter dash, the Irish sprint specialist also placed sixth in the 100-meter dash (11.19)

In addition to his win in the 400-meter hurdles, Mark Barber placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, posting a season best time of 14.66. Sophomore Napolean Suarez joined Barber in the 400-meter hurdles and captured fourth place in the event with a time of 55.55.

Sophomore Chris Staron cleared a height of 2.07m in the high jump on his way to a fourth place finish. Also finding success in the field events, top Irish javelin thrower, freshman Derek Goguen improved his team leading mark in the event with a throw of 58.95m, which earned him a fourth place finish. Wrapping up the top-five finishers this weekend for the Irish was Tom Gilbert, the fifth place finisher in the long jump (6.87m).

BIG EAST action begins next weekend on Friday with the decathlon and heptathlon. Saturday’s events commence at 9:00 a.m. with day two of the decathlon and the women’s javelin. Track events are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. On Sunday, field events will again start at 9:00 a.m. and track events will begin at 11:00 a.m. Results will be available on www.bigeast.org and a recap can be found after events have concluded on Saturday and Sunday.