TicketsMarch 27, 2009
IN THE STARTING BLOCKS:
The University of Cincinnati outdoor track and field team hosts the second of three straight track meets when it welcomes teams to the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on Saturday, March 28. Teams competing in this year's event include Bellarmine, Dayton, Findlay, Tiffin, University of Indianapolis, Morehead State, Northern Kentucky, Ohio, and Xavier.
BEARCAT BITES:
· Sophomore Natasha Burse recorded three wins in the opening weekend of the outdoor season, winning the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 relay.
· Senior Ian Jarman notched an NCAA regional-qualifying throw of 190' 11" in the hammer throw at the Early Bird Relays.
· Two freshman records fell as Michael Rutherford surpassed Alex Ramsey's 800 meter record of 1:50.56 with a time of 1:50.49. Fellow freshman Eric Finan shattered the 1,500 meter freshman record with a time of 14:29.66, which also was a Gettler Stadium record.
· One meet into the season, junior Brandon Fitch recorded a regional-qualifying mark in the high jump with a clearance of 6' 10-3/4".
· UC's Antione Drakeford won two BIG EAST titles (400, 4x100) last season en route to capturing BIG EAST Most Outstanding Male Track Performer accolades.
· The UC women set six school records last season, while the men posted three.
· Jasmine Cotten had a breakthrough 2009 indoor season and looks to carry the momentum from the indoor season to the outdoor season. Cotten qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the pentathlon and finished 14th at the NCAA's March 13 in College Station, Texas.
· 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.
LAST TIME OUT:
The University of Cincinnati men's and women's outdoor track and field teams opened its 2009 season with wins at the Early Bird Relays held at Gettler Stadium. The men's team scored 170 points to defeat six other teams, while the women's team scored 165, beating out eight other squads.
For the women, sophomore Natasha Burse earned a trio of first-place finishes in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and as part of the 4x100 relay. Burse recorded a time of 12.15 in the 100, 24.44 in the 200, and the 4x100 team ran a time of 46.54.
Freshman Michael Rutherford set a new UC freshman record in the 800 with a time of 1:50.49 to defeat fellow teammates, junior Antione Drakeford (1:52.04) and Alex Ramsey (1:52.27).
Fellow freshman Eric Finan turned in arguably the finest run of the meet with a Gettler Stadium record time of 14:29.66 in the 5,000 meters. Finan's time was the fourth fastest time in that event in school history.
Junior Brandon Fitch picked up right where he left off a season ago taking home first-place honors in the high jump with a regional-qualifying clearance of 6' 10-3/4.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats conclude their 2009 home schedule when they host the Southern Ohio Cup on Saturday, April 5.