Track Set For Penn Relays, National City Invite
Squad splits for second time this season
Contact: Jeremy Martin
4/26/2005
Regional qualifier Chris Smith heads to Philadelphia for the historic Penn Relays this weekend |
BEARCAT ELITE TRAVEL TO CITY OF BROTHERY LOVE: This week, the University of Cincinnati will send its elite track and field athletes to the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. The 111th running of the Penn Relays will get underway on April 28 and conclude on April 30 at historic Franklin Field. The Bearcats will also send student-athletes to the National City Invitational in Bowling Green, Ky on April 30. Western Kentucky will host the nine-team event at Charles M. Ruter Track, with field events beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT.
MEET INFORMATION:
Penn Relays
?Host: University of Pennsylvania
?Final results: Available at www.PennAthletics.com
?UC Competitors: Renee Hein (high jump), Shintara Carpenter (triple jump), Ashley Wilhelm (long jump), 4x400 relay (Shipman, Gibson, Davis, Wilhelm), Sprint Medley Relay (Wilhlem, Shipman, Davis, Gibson), Clarence Hartman (400 hurdles), Tyler Grieves (high jump), Andrew Smith (high jump), 4x200 relay (Steidel, Hartman, Batt, Irving), Chandler Groves (long jump), Cameron Widget (long jump), 4x400 relay (Mount, Hamilton, Batt, Irving), Phill Joseph (triple jump), 4x800 relay (Ramsey, Starkey, Richards, Graves), Chad Beamer (pole vault), Chris Smith (pole vault), Dan Albrinck (pole vault).
National City Invitational
?Host: Western Kentucky
?Final results: Available at www.WKUSports.com
?Events: 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, steeplechase, 5,000 meters, 110 hurdles (M), 100 hurdles (W), 400 hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer, javelin.
?Competing Teams: Cincinnati, Austin Peay, Belmont, Clayton State, Eastern Kentucky, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee State, UAB, Western Kentucky.
BEARCATS RETAIN SOUTHERN OHIO CUP: Grabbing 15 combined event titles, the UC track and field teams edged host Miami (Ohio) to capture their second consecutive Southern Ohio Cup on April 23 at George Rider Track. On a cold and rainy day, the Bearcat men and women combined for 319 points, getting past the RedHawks (306 points) and easily outdistancing Ohio University (176 points).
The Bearcat men won nine event crowns, including both relays, while the women captured six events, including two from Jo Young.
The sprints were a strength for UC as Ian Steidel won the 100 meters in a personal-best 10.88, while Lonnie Irving captured the 200 meter title (21.92) and finished second in the 400 (49.42). The 4 x 100 meter relay team of Steidel, Justin Conway, Irving, and Clarence Hartman sped to a 41.63, while the 4 x 400 team, consisting of Jimmy Mount, Jerod Batt, Irving, and Hartman posted a 3:16.72.
Taylor Garvin led the distance events, capturing the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:23.82.
In the field, Dan Albrinck won his first pole vault title of the season, clearing 15' 0". Phill Joseph grabbed the triple jump crown, leaping 44' 3-1/4". Steve Kahle, second on UC?s outdoor shot put list, captured the event title with a 51' 5" heave.
The women again scored well in the field events as Young garnered two of the field events as Young garnered two of the Bearcats? six wins, capturing the shot-put (46' 7-1/4") and hammer throw (165' 2") titles, while placing second in the discus (128' 6"). Renee Hein earned her fourth high jump crown of the season, clearing 5' 6". Competing for the first time since the Raleigh Relays on March 25, Shintara Carpenter won the triple jump, leaping 38' 9-1/2".
In the 400 meters, Dominique Davis and Adrienne Shipman finished first and second, posting a 57.87 and 1:01.11, respectively. Each also ran a leg, along with Danielle Erwin and Erin Leeper, of the champion 4 x 400 relay (4:02.41).
TWO MORE QUALIFIERS: Ashley Wilhelm and Andrew Smith became the sixth and seventh Bearcats to qualify for postseason action on April 16 at the All-Ohio Championships. Wilhelm set a school record in winning the heptathlon (5137), while Smith placed third in the high jump with a personal-best 6? 10-3/4? leap. They join Kenny Wade (200 meters), Jimmy Mount (decathlon), Chris Smith (pole vault), Renee Hein (high jump), and Jo Young (shot put) as Bearcat qualifiers.
DEFENDING THE CROWN: The UC men?s team will be looking to defend its Conference USA title this season. Last year, the men won their third C-USA crown in nine years. The Bearcat men have finished no lower than third at the C-USA Championships and placed second on four occasions.
The women?s team has improved since the league started in 1996. UC finished last, scoring only one team point in 1996, but has finished sixth and fifth, respectively, the last two seasons.
4x400 DOMINATION: The Bearcat men have won five of the six 4x400 relays they have entered this season. Missing leadoff man Jimmy Mount at the Raleigh Relays, the Bearcats finished 17th. UC?s top time (3:13.40) came at the All-Ohio meet.
BEARCATS IN THE RANKINGS: Three Bearcats rank in the top 15 nationally in their respective events. Chris Smith holds the highest national ranking, owning the seventh-best pole vault mark of 2005. Jimmy Mount is currently 14th in the decathlon, while Renee Hein ranks 12th in the high jump.
COMING UP: The Bearcats will have a week off to train for the C-USA Championships on May 12-14 in Houston, Texas. The men will attempt to defend their title while the women will look for their first C-USA crown.