Irish prepare for Big East championships
By HEATHER VAN HOEGARDEN
Sports Writer
With many athletes taking the weekend off to prepare for the upcoming Big East Championships, some other Irish athletes had the chance to shine at the Drake Relays and Boilermaker Open.
Notre Dame's 4 x 1600 meter relay fell just short in their attempt to defend the crown from last year's Drake Relays where Kevin Somok, Vinny Ambrico, Eric Morrison and Luke Watson finished third in 16 minutes, 48.57 seconds, while first place finisher Stanford ran it in 16:31.19.
Meanwhile, last year's Big East Champion in the 110-meter hurdles Selim Nurudeen qualified for the finals with his 14.01 second place finish in his heat Friday. That time is a season best, and Nurudeen was the sixth-fastest qualifier for the finals. Saturday, Nurudeen ran to fifth place with a time of 14.19 seconds. However, Nurudeen wasn't satisfied, despite making the finals for the first time.
"It could have been a better race in the finals, but it was better than last year," Nurudeen said. "It is going to be hard [to win the Big East Championship], but this was a great momentum builder and I look to carry it into this weekend."
Thomas Chamney joined Nurudeen at Drake, as he took fifth in the 800-meters with a time of 1:57.91 Saturday. Chamney will most likely be the mens top entry in the 800-meters next weekend.
The women only sent two distance runners, and both were in the 1,500 meters. Freshman Stephanie Madia took 11th (4:32.46), while Kerry Meagher took 16th with a time of 4:35.35.
Meanwhile, while their teammates were enjoying the prestigious Drake Relays, other Irish athletes braved the cold in West Lafayette, Ind. where they competed in Purdue's Boilermaker Open.
Freshmen Meghan Horn and Stacey Cowan led the way for the women, each winning their respective events. Horn won the womens shot put with a throw of 13.60 meters, which Cowan ran her first 100-meter hurdles, winning in 14.67 seconds, also good for a Big East qualification.
Jennifer Kearney also had a strong showing, as she took second place in the high jump, clearing 1.65 meters. Horn matched Kearney's second place finish with one of her own, in the discus with a season best effort of 43.13 meters.
Another freshman seeing success was Elizabeth Webster, who ran to third place in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:44.11. Joining the plethora of successful freshmen, Cowan also took fifth in the long jump (5.37 meters), and Tanya Cheatham was fifth in the 100-meter dash (12.30) as well.
Finally, Melissa Schmidt took fifth place in the 5,000 meters (18:27.41).
On the mens side, Mark Barber won the 400-meter hurdles with a season best time of 53.22. This is the second week in a row Barber has posted a season best. Barber also placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, with another season best, 14.66.
Juan Alba made a name for himself as well, finishing second in the hammer throw (54.17 meters), a season best effort by over a meter.
Meanwhile, Ryan Hurd sprinted to a third place finish in the 200-meter dash (21.38). However, his efforts did not end there, as Hurd also placed sixth in the 100-meter dash (11.19).
Barber was joined in the 400-meter hurdles by teammate and fourth place finisher Napolean Suarez, as he finished in 55.55.
In the field, Chris Staron cleared 2.07 meters in the high jump, good enough for fourth place. He was joined by top javelin thrower, freshman Derek Goguen, who also earned fourth place with a season best throw of 58.95 meters. Tom Gilbert wrapped up the field events with his fifth place finish in the long jump (6.87 meters).
The Irish look to build off the momentum the weekend's events into the upcoming Big East Championship. Notre Dame should be well-rested, as many athletes took the weekend off to prepare for the conference meet, which begins Friday with the decathlon and heptathlon.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, April 29, 2003
