Athletes prepare for NCAAs at Alex Wilson Invite
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Assistant Sports Editor
Leading members of the Irish track and field squad look to the home crowd at this weekend's Alex Wilson Invitational to propel them in their efforts to qualify for the NCAA Indoors Champion-ships.
High jumper Jen Engelhardt and long jumpers Marshaun West and Tameisha King have put themselves into strong position to earn NCAA berths, but will need slight improvements to make it into the top echelon of the nation's athletes.
West, a senior All-American, has leapt 25-foot-4 this season, but likely needs a jump of at least 25-foot-6 to send him to nationals in Fayetteville, Ark., next week.
"I'm not going to try to barely sneak in," West said. "I want to jump over 26 feet this weekend. I've been working really hard in practice trying to make sure I have enough practice time because I've been hurt. I believe I'm back at 100 percent, and I'm ready to go full-speed."
King is a freshman who has hit marks of 20-foot-4 1/2 this season. A three-inch improvement will probably be enough to secure her a spot at the NCAA Championships.
"Considering that I'm No. 19 nationally and I'm trying to qualify for nationals, and they take the top 15, I have to improve my jump right now," King said. "My goal is 21 feet. I believe I was capable of it last week, but there were a couple of things I needed to correct technically."
Engelhardt, also a senior All-American, finished second at the Big East Indoors Championships for the third straight season. Currently 22nd in the nation, she needs about an inch-and-a-half improvement to ensure her a qualifying spot.
"We're kind of training through this meet in preparation for the outdoors season," field events coach Scott Winsor said, "Except for those three who need to improve on their jumps to get to the NCAAs. They're at a very high caliber right now; it's just that you have to be in the top 15."
Notre Dame's distance medley relay squad of Phil Mishka, Chris Cochran, Tim Kober and Luke Watson is holding strong at seventh or eighth in the nation. Only 10 relay squads make the cut for nationals, however, so the four are looking to shave a couple seconds off their time.
"We're sitting at seventh or eighth in the country right now, and they're going to take 10 teams into nationals," Mishka said, who will run the lead-off 1200-meter leg. "We want to make sure that we're still in the top 10 after this weekend. If we all improved as much as we're capable of, we'd probably be leading the country."
Following Mishka will be Cochran on the 400-meter leg, who won that event at the Big East Championships. Kober will run the 800-meter leg, while Watson will close out the relay with a mile run.
"Our primary goal is basically to get into nationals," Watson said. "To do that we'll need to win and we'll need to probably run a faster time than we've ever run before. That's not being too ambitious."
Junior Ryan Shay will take his aim at a nationals berth with a race in the 5,000-meter run, as will senior Sean McManus and sophomore Marc Striowski.
"I'd like to think so, but I have my doubts," Shay said on his chances of qualifying. "I still haven't been training that much since coming off my injuries. It's going to take tolerating a lot of pain for me, because my body's just not used to running that hard. We have a really good field coming in for the Alex Wilson, as far as the 5000 goes."
In the women's 5,000-meter run, senior Alison Klemmer hopes to hold court.
"I just want to get out there and really enjoy myself and enjoy the last home meet," Klemmer said. "I think that's going to lead to a really good race."
In other distance events for the Irish are Bridget O'Brien in the 3,000-meter run, Patty Rice, Jen Handley and Erin Olson in the mile; and Leanne Brady and Cara Motter in the 800-meter run. Antonio Arce will take the line for the men in the mile.
Sprints coach John Millar is focusing in on a few events with shots at NCAA berths — Cochran in the 200-meter run, junior Terry Wray, Liz Grow and Kymia Love in the 400-meter run.
"We're trying to get her qualified for the NCAAs as well," Millar said of Grow. "She's met the standard, but she needs to improve her time if she wants to get into the top 16."
The meet begins on the Loftus track and field this evening, and continues tomorrow.
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 3, 2000
