Bearcats Men, Women Win Southern Ohio Cup

March 29, 2008

Complete Results

OXFORD, OH - The University of Cincinnati men's and women's track and field teams totalled 21 event victories in easily winning Southern Ohio Cup titles on Saturday (March 29) afternoon at the George L. Rider Track.

The men, led by regional qualifier Brandon Fitch (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek) in the high jump, posted 12 individual crowns and 297 points, topping second-place Miami (OH) (172.5) by over 100 points. Fitch cleared the 6' 10-3/4" mark to win the high jump crown and qualify for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in May. Freshman Jordan McPherson (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) won both the 110 hurdles (14.98) and the long jump (22' 7"), while also running the opening leg for the champion 4x100 relay team (41.26).

UC posted a good showing in the throws, as Chris Littleton (Harrison, OH/Harrison) won the discus (161' 5"), Ian Jarman (Felicity, OH/Felicity-Franklin) won the hammer throw (183' 11"), Brian Zimmerman (Sarver, PA/Freeport) captured the javelin title (188' 5") and Troy Cooper (Alexandria, KY/Bishop Brossart) won the shot put (50' 6").

Antione Drakeford (Columbus, OH/Africentric) tied a meet record set in 2006 by former teammate Cedric Powell with a 47.37 in the 400 meters.

The women tallied 239 points to outdistance Miami (OH), which scored 175. Dayton was third with 111 points.

Natasha Burse (Garland, TX/Richardson) won both the 100 (12.29) and 200 (25.22) meter dashes, while also helping the Bearcats to wins in the 4x100 relay (46.65) and 4x400 relay (3:52.41).

Brittany Klima (Ottoville, OH/Ottoville) won her second consecutive pole vault crown with a 12' 1-1/2" clearance. Monica Hundley (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) won the 100 meter hurdles in 13.98 and ran a leg for the champion 4x100 relay team. Freshman Chelsea Gerken (Napoleon, OH/Napoleon) captured the javelin title with a 124' 0" throw.

The Bearcats' heptathletes and decathletes competed at the Alabama Relays on Thursday and Friday in Tuscaloosa. Keller Schnier (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) was the lone men's competitor, finishing fifth in the decathlon with 6075 points.

The women were led by Gerken, who finished fifth in the heptathlon with 4560. Boudine Bouma (Pumerend, The Netherlands/DaVinci College) was right behind Gerken in sixth place with 4541 points.

The Bearcats return to Gettler Stadium for the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on April 5.