Cross country rivals set to meet on track
By DAVE COOK
Sports Writer
When the distance runners of the men's and women's track and field team toe the line on Friday, they will be lining up against opponents who are very familiar — probably too familiar for their own comfort.
The last time the Notre Dame distance runners raced against Michigan State was in the NCAA cross country championships in Greenville, S.C., Michigan State took 18th place in the team standings while Notre Dame claimed a fifth place finish.
In the women's race, Michigan State had finished in an impressive 11th place with the Irish finishing in 19th place.
"They have excellent distance runners. Excellent," said Irish head coach Joe Piane.
For the men, the formidable Michigan State distance squad is led under the stellar performance of All-American Andy Lixey. Lixey was red-shirted as a sophomore, but came back in his junior year to take a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters at the Big Ten Championships.
Also among the distance men is freshman phenom Chris Toloff, who led the MSU cross country team, finishing 64th at nationals.
Complimenting the distance runners is senior Paul Terek, who earned All-American honors in the heptathlon at the NCAA championships. He specializes in the pole vault competition, where he has a personal record 17-feet, 5 inches.
Rounding out the Michigan State squad are Steve Manz in the shot put, Jeff Kus in the high jump, and Julien Williams in the long jump, all of who are looking for victories at the Big Ten Championships.
The Notre Dame men's team is coming off a somewhat disappointing third place finish last Friday with the absence of several key athletes.
Quill Redwine and Tom Gilbert were sidelined due to sickness, while distance runners Marc Striowski and Pat Conway were out of competition because of minor injuries.
High jumper Godwin Mbagwu was also not in full form last Friday because of pains he was having in his legs.
"I was not pleased with the men. We should have done significantly better than that," said Piane. "But then again you miss those five guys. Certainly enough points out of those five would have gotten us the win."
The Michigan State women, under a new head coach in Angela Goodman, will bring many strong athletes to Notre Dame on Friday.
Senior tri-captain Ann Somerville leads the MSU track and field team, posting NCAA provisional qualifying times last year in the 3000 meter steeplechase and the 5000 meter run.
Senior Sherita Williams also poses a threat to score many points on Friday. She was the 2001 Indoor Big Ten Champion in the triple jump, breaking an MSU school record three times last season.
In the field events, junior tri-captain Lynlee Philips leads the Spartans, competing in the 20-pound weight throw and the javelin. She holds the Michigan State school record in both categories.
The Notre Dame women look to continue their success with a second win on the season. They began the season with a bang, winning 11 of 16 events in a triangular meet last Friday. And according to Liz Grow, they have their expectations set high for this 2002 season.
"Our mile relay team is so fast. I'm very confident that we'll all get All-American this year in the mile relay," said Grow.
The women show depth all around. Grow leads the sprinting corps, the distance group is coming off a very strong cross country season, and in the field events Tameisha King and company look to create a lot of noise in the Big East.
Notre Dame and Michigan State square off this Friday. Field events begin at 6 p.m. on the Meyo Track.
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 25, 2002
