March 28, 2006
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FOR STARTERS:
After a strong showing at the Raleigh Relays last weekend, the track and field teams return to Gettler Stadium to host the second annual Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on Sat., April 1. Field events are set to begin at 11 a.m. with track events scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC enters its first season of competition in the BIG EAST Conference in 2006. The conference features 16 men's and women's track & field teams, constituting the largest league in the nation. The 2006 BIG EAST Championships will be held on May 5-7 at the 's George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.
The men's team boasts 28 BIG EAST qualifiers, while the women's squad has 12 qualifiers for the BIG EAST Championships. (long jump) and Renee Hein (high jump) have each met NCAA regional qualifying marks in their respective events.
Seniors Kenny Wade (200 meters), Ashley Wilhelm (long jump, heptathlon), and Shintara Carpenter (triple jump), and juniors Renee Hein (javelin) and Tara Meier (pole vault) are current school record holders.
Head men's coach Bill Schnier is in his 26th season at in such a capacity. Head women's coach Jim Schnur is in his 22nd year at and his sixth as head coach.
LAST TIME OUT:
posted 15 top-five finishes at the prestigious Raleigh Relays on Friday and Saturday, March 24-25, at the Paul Derr Track on the campus of . The Bearcat men had 21 top-15 finishers, including the 4x100 relay team, which placed first. Senior Chandler Groves was UC's top individual finisher, placing second in the long jump with a 24' 6-1/4" leap. Andrew Smith placed third in the high jump (6' 6-3/4"), while John Bowie was fourth in the 100 meter dash, crossing the line in 10.75. The top women's finisher was Tara Meier, who placed second in the pole vault, clearing 11' 9-3/4". Renee Hein was fifth in the high jump with a 5' 5" clearance. Former Bearcat and current member of the Indiana Invaders Brandon Hon won the 110 meter hurdles, finishing in 13.87.
TAKING OFF:
Senior Chandler Groves, a regional qualifier in the long jump in 2005, has already met the regional qualifying mark this season. He won the event in the season-opening Early Bird Relays with a leap of 24' 1" and topped that with a 24' 6-1/4" jump in finishing second at the Raleigh Relays. He is eight inches shy of his personal best of 25' 2-3/4", set at last season's Conference USA Championships.
MEIER, KLIMA TOPS IN POLE VAULT:
Junior Tara Meier and sophomore Brittany Klima are battling one another for the UC pole vault record. Klima broke Meier's indoor record this season and Meier returned the favor, topping Klima's outdoor record by 1/4" at the Early Bird Relays. Together, they hold nine of the top 10 marks in school history in the indoor vault and each of the top 10 marks outdoors.
BEARCATS TO HOST THREE MEETS IN 2006:
UC will play host to three track meets at Gettler Stadium during the 2006 season. On March 18, opened the outdoor season by holding the Early Bird Relays. The second annual Oliver Nikoloff Invitational will be held on April 1. The Southern Ohio Cup, which pits UC, Ohio University and Miami (Ohio) against one another in a tri-meet using both men's and women's scores combined, will take place at Gettler Stadium on April 22. will hold a UC Track and Field Reuinion weekend around the Southern Ohio Cup, which will feature a buffet dinner and fundraiser for UC track and field.
TWO BEARCATS QUALIFY FOR REGIONALS:
and junior Renee Hein have met NCAA Mid-East Regional qualifying marks in the long jump and high jump, respectively. Each was a regional qualifier in 2005. jumped 24' 6-1/4" at the Raleigh Relays, while Hein cleared 5' 8-3/4" at the Early Bird Relays.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats will head to , , for the competitive All-Ohio Championships on April 7-8 at 's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.