Track: New Irish faces look to win at Tom Botts Invite
By: DAVE COOK
Sports Writer
New events are not the only changes that come along with the transition from the indoor track and field season to the outdoor season. Along with these new events comes a new group of emerging stars who are making a name for themselves, both in the Big East Conference and, more importantly, the nation.
As Notre Dame continues its outdoor season at the Tom Botts Invitational in Columbia, Mo. this weekend, these standouts look to continue the success that they have seen.
The most impressive of these stars has been sophomore Todd Mobley, who is currently ranked 18th in the nation in the 10,000-meter run. He posted a 29 minute, 11.35 second time in the 10,000 at the Stanford Invitational two weekends ago. Mobley, whose best performance during the indoor season was a 14:14.33 5000-meter run at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational, has improved dramatically since the outdoor season began.
"I feel stronger," said Mobley. "I felt like I trained just as hard [for] indoors, but the training is finally taking effect because my times are more impressive than anything I've done indoors."
The men's team has also seen an impressive performance in senior Pat Conway this outdoor season. Conway, is finally in top form again after battling sickness during the indoor season.
"I was a little bit sick during cross country and indoor track, [and] that dragged me down a little bit," Conway said. "But I've gotten healthier, and my breathing has been a lot better, so that has helped."
Conway is looking to defend his 1500 title at the Tom Botts Invitational, where last year he ran a season-best 3:50.09.
The women's track and field team has found much of its outdoor season success from a dorm room in Welsh Hall. Freshmen roommates Christi Arnerich and Kate Duman have immediately found themselves as top Irish competitors in events exclusive to the outdoor season: the 3000-meter steeplechase run and the javelin throw.
In the first steeplechase run of her collegiate career, Arnerich ran a Big East qualifying time of 11:16.55 at Notre Dame's Spring Opener last weekend. She had the fourth-best time in the mile during the indoor season, but in the outdoor season has found herself as Notre Dame's top steeplechase runner.
"I was pretty surprised that I was able to run that time at the beginning of the season," Arnerich said. "Hopefully I'll run about 10 to 15 seconds faster [this weekend]."
Duman made an impact on the record books in her first collegiate meet. Her personal-best throw of 126 feet, 7 inches at the Purdue Invitational is the top throw for the Irish this season. Despite her success, the freshman says it comes as somewhat of a surprise.
"I hadn't planned on doing track in college, but I came here to do it," Duman said. "I wasn't expecting to come out so well in my first meet, because that was a personal best for me. And this was the first time that I've thrown the javelin, so that was exciting."
Duman and the rest of the Notre Dame track and field team are hoping to get more Big East qualifying and NCAA qualifying times this weekend at the Tom Botts Invitational. For many, this meet serves as an opportunity to get ready for the more competitive meets to come, and ultimately, the Big East Championship.
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 12, 2002
