TicketsJune 10, 2008
IN THE STARTING BLOCKS:
The University of Cincinnati will send two student-athletes to the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11-14 at historic Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Senior pole vaulter Brittany Klima and sophomore high jumper Brandon Fitch will make their first appearances at the NCAA Championships. Fitch won the BIG EAST high jump title this season and Klima was the 2007 BIG EAST pole vault champ.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcats have sent at least one individual to the NCAA Championships every year since 2001 and brought home five all-America honors in the process (Miriam Merrill, indoor weight throw, 2001; David Payne, 110 hurdles, 2003 & 2004; Chris Wineberg, decathlon, 2004, Ashley Wilhelm, heptathlon, 2007).
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.
LAST TIME OUT:
Sophomore Brandon Fitch and senior Brittany Klima earned spots in the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by finishing third in the high jump and pole vault, respectively, at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on May 31 at John McDonnell Field at the University of Arkansas.
Fitch cleared a season-best 6' 11" in the high jump, while Klima shattered her own school record in the pole vault, clearing 13' 7-3/4". Her previous best was 12' 11-1/2", set at the Penn Relays earlier this season. Both Bearcats will make their first appearances at the NCAA Championships.
Shane Shockey set a personal best, clearing 17' 1" in the pole vault to finish eighth.
Ian Jarman, making his second straight regional appearance, was 13th in the hammer throw with a 192' 1" heave. Senior Monica Hundley posted a 13.50 in preliminaries for the 100 meter hurdles, finishing her UC career with a 16th-place finish. Hundley is the school record holder in both the indoor 60 meter hurdles and the outdoor 100 meter hurdles.
Brandon Fitch
So. Beavercreek, OH High Jump
PR: 6' 11" 5/30/08 Mideast Regional Championships
2008: 6' 11" 5/30 Mideast Regional Championships
National Rank: T-41st
Placed third at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships with a 6' 11" clearance
Won 2008 BIG EAST championship in high jump (6' 9-1/2")
Won three high jump crowns this season
First-time national qualifier
Academic Major: History
2008 Season Marks
6' 11" 5/30 3rd Mideast Regional Championships
6' 10-3/4" 5/17 3rd Cardinal Twilight
6' 10-3/4" 4/19 5th All-Ohio Championships
6' 10-3/4" 4/12 2nd Sea Ray Relays
6' 10-3/4" 3/29 1st Southern Ohio Cup
6' 9-1/2" 5/4 1st BIG EAST Championships
6' 8-3/4" 4/5 2nd Oliver Nikoloff Invitational
6' 8-3/4" 3/22 1st Early Bird Relays
6' 8-1/2" 4/26 3rd Penn Relays
Brittany Klima
Sr. Ottoville, OH Pole Vault
PR: 13' 7-3/4" 5/31/08 Mideast Regional Championships
2008: 13' 7-3/4" 5/31 Mideast Regional Championships
National Rank: T-55th
Placed third at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships with a school-record 13' 7-3/4" clearance
Holds school record in indoor (13' 3-1/2") and outdoor pole vault (13' 7-3/4")
Regional qualifier for third straight season (10th in pole vault in 2007, NH in pole vault in 2006)
First-time national qualifier
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
2008 Season Marks
13' 7-3/4" 5/30 3rd Mideast Regional Championships
12' 11-1/2" 4/26 2nd Penn Relays
12' 07-3/4" 3/22 1st Early Bird Relays
12' 07-1/2" 4/19 3rd All-Ohio Championships
12' 07-1/2" 4/5 1st Oliver Nikoloff Invitational
12' 05-1/2" 5/4 5th BIG EAST Championships
12' 03-1/2" 4/12 13th Sea Ray Relays
12' 01-1/2" 3/29 1st Southern Ohio Cup