TicketsApril 29, 2008
PHILADELPHIA/INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Cincinnati track and field teams split squads this weekend, attending the prestigous Penn Relays in Philadelphia and the Stan Lyons Invitational, a last chance meet for those hoping to qualify for the BIG EAST Championships. Three school records were set at the Penn Relays, which highlighted the weekend.
A 17-year old school mark fell on the men's side, as Ian Jarman (Felicity, OH/Felicity Franklin) posted a 202' 11" hammer throw to win the event and become just the second Bearcat to win a Penn Relays title in school history. Mike Yoder was the decathlon champion in 2001. The throw topped Richard Hurst's UC record of 200' 8" set in 1991.
Two other Bearcats placed at the meet. Shane Shockey (Bluffton, OH/Bluffton) cleared 16' 0-3/4" in the pole vault to finish sixth and Brandon Fitch (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek) cleared 6' 8-1/2" in the high jump for a third-place finish.
Penn held success for the women as well. Brittany Klima (Ottoville, OH/Ottoville) broke her own school mark in the pole vault, clearing 12' 11-1/2" and improved her regional qualifying mark inthe process and the shuttle hurdle relay team of Kaylon Eppinger (Warrensville Heights, OH/Warrensville Heights), Sharika Thompson (La Mesa, CA/Helix), Quinesha Dinkins (Lima, OH/Elida), and Monica Hundley (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) broke the school mark with a 57.66 to finish fifth. Hundley posted a 13.87 in the 100 hurdles to finish 16th in a loaded field.
A pair of former Bearcats also found success at the Penn Relays. Assistant coach Brandon Hon finished first in the 400 meter hurdles Olympic Development field with a time of 50.72. Olympic hopeful Mary Wineberg led off the U.S. vs. the World 4x400 relay team, which posted the fastest time in the world this year in 3:22.16, winning by over five seconds.
The Stan Lyons Invitational in Indianapolis gave Bearcats athletes a chance to meet BIG EAST qualifying times before the conference championships next weekend.
David Adams (Massillon, OH/Perry) for the men and Mandi Boykin (Ironton, OH/Ironton) for the women were the new BIG EAST qualifiers. Adams sped to a 9:16.67 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, good for 14th in school history and currently ranking seventh in the BIG EAST. Boykin posted a 12.25 in the 100 meters to get into the conference meet.
School record holder Brian Zimmerman (Sarver, PA/Freeport) won the javelin with a 201' 2" throw, the second week in a row he has passed the 200' barrier.
The Bearcats will head to Villanova for the 2008 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships on May 2-4. The men's team will take 34 athletes, while the women travel 28 in search of BIG EAST supremacy.