April 10, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s track and field teams completed the 2004 Tom Botts Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The meet, held at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Missouri’s campus, marks the fourth outdoor event of the season for the Irish teams. Notre Dame took 11 event victories out of the 40 competed on Friday and Saturday. Junior BIG EAST Champions Selim Nurudeen was named the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Meet for matching the meet record (14.20) while winning the 110-meter hurdles.
Sophomore Kate Duman broke her own school record in the javelin, tossing the implement 43.07m (141-4) to qualify for the NCAA regional meet.
Notre Dame will split up next weekend, as the teams will appear in both the Indy Relays in Indianapolis, Ind., and the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
TOM BOTTS INVITATIONAL RECAP:
Freshman Tommie Lee earned the first individual title of his outdoor career in the 100 meters, taking fist in 11.13 just ahead of teammate Ryan Hurd (11.18).
Senior Ayesha Boyd improved her season-best 400-meter time in victorious fashion, crossing the finish line in 56.26. Freshman Ockehi Ogboukiri (57.86) and junior Tiffany Gunn (58.22) finished third and fourth, respectively.
Sophomore Ryan Postel continued to perform well in the 400 meters, winning the event in 48.12 – Trevor McClain-Duer took third in 49.05
Sophomore Thomas Chamney improved his season-best time in the 800 meters by winning the race in 1:52.52. Junior Eric Morrison, who finished third behind Chamney, qualified for the BIG EAST outdoor meet with a 1:53.03 effort.
Sophomore Molly Huddle appeared on the outdoor track for the first time in 2004 this weekend, running the 1,500 meters and finishing third in 4:31.91. That time will put her in the BIG EAST outdoor 1,500-meter championship field.
Selim Nurudeen captured hits third-straight 110-meter hurdle race on Saturday, besting the field to cross the finish line in 14.20. Nurudeen become the second Irish athlete to earn an outstanding athlete of the meet award, as ’03 graduate Tameisha King won the women’s award in 2002.
Notre Dame’s hurdle contingent dominated in the 400 meters, putting three runners in the top five. Senior Napolean Suarez was the winner in a season-best 53.92, finishing ahead of Mark Barber (54.28) in second. Alex Fortunato qualified for the BIG EAST meet in the 400-meter hurdles by finishing fifth in 55.62.
The Irish enjoyed two season-best efforts in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on the men’s side, with Ryan Johnson winning the race in 9:16.54, followed by Todd Ptacek in 9:27.27 and third place. Both times are BIG EAST qualifying efforts.
In the men’s pole vault, both freshmen Justin Oppel (4.70m) and Dave Viken (4.55m) qualified for the BIG EAST meet. Oppel finished second, while Viken took third place.
The women’s team took the top two spots in the triple jump, with sophomore Petra Dankova taking first with a season-best 12.21m (40-0 3/4) effort. Rookie Cassie Gullickson was second with a jump of 11.43m (37-6).
Senior Godwin Mbagwu won the men’s portion of the triple jump with a 14.52m (47-7 3/4) measurement.
Notre Dame’s three male hammer throwers enjoyed the top single outdoor meet of the ’04 season so far. Senior Juan Alba won the competition with a 55.45 (181-11) toss, followed by Chip Roberts in fourth (52.57m, 172-6) and Jason Davis in fifth (51.50m, 168-11). All three final measurements for the three competitors are season bests.