TicketsMay 30, 2008
IN THE STARTING BLOCKS:
The University of Cincinnati will send nine student-athletes to the 2008 NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on May 30-31 in Fayetteville, Ark. The meet will be held at the University of Arkansas' John McDonnell Field and will include national powers such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcat men finished fourth at the 2008 BIG EAST Championships, the highest finish in the three-year affiliation with the 16-team league. The women placed 10th.
UC's Antione Drakeford won two BIG EAST titles (400, 4x100) en route to capturing BIG EAST Most Outstanding Male Track Performer accolades.
The UC women have set six school records this season, while the men have posted three.
Brian Zimmerman broke the school's longest-standing record - Bob Brickweg's javelin mark, set in 1967 - with a 204' 0" toss at the All-Ohio Championships.
Lilian Jelimo broke two school marks, setting a new standard in the 5,000 meters (16:55.46) and 10,000 meters (35:22.35) during the outdoor season. Indoors, she set school records in the 3,000 (9:43.45) and 5,000 (16:37.40).
LAST TIME OUT:
Antione Drakeford was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer in leading the University of Cincinnati men's team to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships on May 4. The women placed 10th.
Drakeford won the 400 meter dash in a school-record time of 46.29, breaking Jeff Walker's 1979 record of 46.42. He ran a leg for the champion 4x100 relay team (41.48) and the fifth-place 4x400 relay team (3:14.54) and finished seventh in the 200 meter dash (21.61) to become the first UC male to earn the most outstanding performer award since the Bearcats joined the BIG EAST in 2006. Brandon Fitch cleared 6' 9-1/2" to win the high jump title and Ian Jarman was second in the hammer throw with a 188' 11" toss. Dayo Igeleke finished third in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters for the second straight season.
For the women, Lilian Jelimo placed third in the 10,000 meters with a school-record 35:22.35. She topped Ruth Limo's 2003 school record by over 37 seconds. Chelsea Gerken broke all-American Ashley Wilhelm's UC javelin record with a 141' 8" throw, finishing fifth. She also finished sixth in the heptathlon with 4712 points. Brittany Klima, the defending BIG EAST champ, placed fifth in the pole vault (12' 5-1/2").
Monica Hundley
Sr. Fairfield, OH 100 hurdles
PR: 100 hurdles - 13.45
2008: 100 hurdles - 13.45
Holds school record in 100 hurdles (13.45) and indoor 60 hurdles (8.31)
Regional qualifier for second straight season (25th in 100 hurdles in 2007)
2008 BIG EAST indoor champion in 60 hurdles (8.31)
2008 BIG EAST runner-up in 100 hurdles (13.57)
Won 100 hurdles event titles three times this season and finished second twice.
Academic Major: Marketing
Brittany Klima
Sr. Ottoville, OH Pole Vault
PR: PV - 12' 11-1/2"
2008: PV - 12' 11-1/2"
Holds school record in indoor (13' 3-1/2") and outdoor pole vault (12' 11-1/2")
Regional qualifier for third straight season (10th in pole vault in 2007, NH in pole vault in 2006)
Finished fifth in pole vault at 2008 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships (12' 5-1/2")
2008 BIG EAST indoor runner-up in PV (13' 3-1/2")
2007 BIG EAST outdoor pole vault champion (12' 9-1/2")
Academic Major: Advanced Medical Imaging Technology
Antione Drakeford
So. Columbus, OH 400m, 4x100 relay
PR: 400 - 46.29; 4x100 - 41.19
2008: 400 - 46.29; 4x100 - 41.19
Named BIG EAST Most Outstanding Male Track Performer
Holds school record in 400 meters (46.29)
Won BIG EAST championships in 400 meters (46.29) and 4x100 meter relay (41.48)
First-time regional qualifier
Also met regional qualifying standard in 200 meters (21.13)
Academic Major: Mechanical Engineering
Brandon Fitch
So. Beavercreek, OH High Jump
PR: 6' 10-3/4"
2008: 6' 10-3/4"
Won 2008 BIG EAST championship in high jump (6' 9-1/2")
Won three high jump crowns this season
First-time regional qualifier
Academic Major: History
Isaac Hendricks
Sr. Cincinnati, OH 4x100 relay
PR: 40.15
2008: 41.19
Regional qualifier for second straight season (4x100 relay team finished 21st in 2007)
Won 2008 BIG EAST title in 4x100 relay (41.48)
Qualified for BIG EAST Championships in 110 hurdles
Academic Major: Finance
Ian Jarman
Jr. Felicity, OH Hammer Throw
PR: HT - 202' 11"
2008: HT - 202' 11"
Holds school record in hammer throw (202' 11")
Regional qualifier for second straight season (did not record a mark in the hammer throw in 2007)
Finished second at 2008 BIG EAST Championships in hammer throw (188' 10") after a third-place finish in 2007 (195' 5")
Won 2008 Penn Relays hammer throw title (202' 11")
Academic Major: Biology and Chemistry
Shane Shockey
So. Bluffton, OH Pole Vault
PR: PV - 16' 6-3/4"
2008: PV - 16' 6-3/4"
Second-place finisher in pole vault at 2008 BIG EAST Championships (16' 2-3/4")
First-time regional qualifier
Won a pair of pole vault titles and finished second on three occasions in 2008
Academic Major: Advanced Medical Imaging Technology
Kyle Thomas
So. West Chester, OH 4x100
PR: 4x100 - 42.81
2008: 4x100 - 42.81
Added to the 4x100 relay team as an injury replacement for Dayo Igeleke
Academic Major: Physical Therapy
Chase Van Cura
So. Mansfield, OH 4x100
PR: 4x100 - 41.19
2008: 4x100 - 41.19
Won 2008 BIG EAST championship in 4x100 relay (41.48)
Earned a victory in the 400 meters at the Early Bird Relays
Academic Major: Operations Management