WOMEN'S TRACK: Relay team set to set another record
By ANDREW SOUKUP
Sports Writer
Imagine this — your relay just broke the school record and ran fast enough to earn an NCAA finals consideration time. So, what do you do next?
Run faster.
That is exactly what the women's 4x400 meter relay team plans to do at this weekend's Alex Wilson Invitational.
At the Big East Indoor Championships two weeks ago, the team of Kymia Love, Kristen Dodd, Ayesha Boyd, and Liz Grow ran 3:44.73, breaking their old school record and achieving a provisional qualifying time by just a quarter of a second.
Even though they set their sights on becoming the first Notre Dame 4x400 relay to qualify for the NCAA outdoor finals, head coach Joe Piane feels they have a chance at making the indoor finals.
"They're going to run it this weekend, and it'll be a really good heat," he said. "The ladies feel that they can do it."
By running another fast time, the 4x400 relay hopes to impress the committee deciding which teams will compete at the NCAA finals next week. Running a provisional time does not necessarily guarantee an athlete will compete in the finals. Piane believes the 4x400 relay would need to run around 3:41 in order to make indoor nationals.
"Just look at all of their PRs — they could run it," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see."
Even if the relay doesn't qualify, Grow will still compete in next week's NCAA finals. At the Meyo Invitational earlier this year, she ran a school record 53.3 seconds in the 400 meters.
While that time was not fast enough for an automatic spot in the finals, it is the second-fastest 400 in the nation this year, virtually assuring her of competing in the NCAA finals.
Grow, who has been dominating the 400-meters for the Irish all season, was upset in the finals at the Big East 400 by Pittsburgh's Tia Tabb. Grow, who had won the Big East title her sophomore year, finished seven hundredths of a second behind Tabb and took second place.
Many top collegiate teams are expected to compete in the final Irish home indoor meet of the season because it is the last opportunity to achieve qualifying performances for next week's NCAA finals.
Tameisha King is another Irish athlete chasing an NCAA bid. She leapt 20 feet, 1/4 inch a month ago, far enough for an NCAA provisional mark. The sophomore All-American is also trying to qualify in the 60-meter hurdles.
King's best time in that event is 8.49; the NCAA provisional time is 8.43.
"She has a legitimate shot in the long jump," said Piane.
The only other Notre Dame athlete with a reasonable chance to reach a qualifying mark this weekend is pole vaulter Jaime Volkmer. The sophomore took second at the Big East Championship with a vault of 12-1 1/2, setting a school record for the third time this season. In order to achieve a qualifying mark, Volkmer needs to clear 12-5 1/2, a height she has attempted multiple times this season.
The Alex Wilson Invitational begins at 6 p.m. tonight with the field events. The meet continues Saturday with the running events.
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 2, 2001
