TicketsApril 22, 2009
IN THE STARTING BLOCKS:
The University of Cincinnati outdoor track and field team heads to Drake, Iowa, to compete in the 100th running of the Drake Relays April 23-25 at Drake Stadium. Fans can buy an all-session package for $85. Additional ticket information can be found by clicking here.
BEARCAT BITES:
· The UC men's and women's teams finished second at the All-Ohio Championships with the men's team finishing six points out of first and the women's team finishing 33 points out of first.
· Troy Cooper reached a NCAA Regional mark and broke Greg Weber's 1983 record of 57' 5" in the shot put at the All-Ohio Championships with a toss of 57' 9".
· Additionally, Ian Jarman and Chad Hanson both reached NCAA Regional marks in the hammer with throws of 195' 1" and 190' 5", respectively.
· Antione Drakeford set an All-Ohio meet record in the 400 with a lap of 46.39, before reaching a NCAA regional time of 21.17 in the 200 meters.
· Dayo Igeleke and Michael Rutherford also reached NCAA Regional qualification marks in the 100 meters and 800 meters, respectively, with times of 10.55 and 1:50.34.
· On the women's side, Natasha Burse won two individual All-Ohio titles and helped win two relay All-Ohio Championships. Burse took top honors in the 100, 200, 4x100, and 4x400.
· Kathy Klump broke the UC 800 meter record en route to claiming first prize in the event with a time of 2:09.94.
· Lilian Jelimo broke her own 3,000 meter steeplechase record with a time of 10:37.87. Jelimo's previous best was 10:38.86 at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational.
· Junior Antione Drakeford broke his own school record and the Gettler Stadium record at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational, while notching a regional-qualifying mark in the 400 with a time of 45.83. Drakeford followed his 400 time with a 45.1 split in the 4x400.
· Drakeford's time of 45.83 in the 400 is the 12th fastest time in the NCAA this season.
· In addition to Drakeford, junior Jasmine Cotten set a NCAA Provisional mark in the heptathlon with a score of 5,321 at the Alabama Relays.
· At the Southern Ohio Cup, Cotten improved her regional qualifying high jump mark to 6', which also was a meet record. Her clearance is tied for the seventh-best leap in the nation this season.
· For the third week in a row, sophomore Natasha Burse swept the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 relay at the Southern Ohio Cup with times of 11.75, 24.25, and 46.23. Burse's 100 time reached a NCAA regional qualifying mark and also was a meet record.
· Freshman Mackenzie Fields matched the NCAA provisional standard in the pole vault with a 12' 7-1/2" clearance.
· Also at the Alabama Relays, sophomore Kaylon Eppinger reached a NCAA provisional mark within the heptathlon with a time of 13.90 in the 100 hurdles, and bettered her time with a 13.88 showing at the Southern Ohio Cup.
· In the field events at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational, junior Shane Shockey reached a NCAA regional-qualifying mark in the pole vault, clearing 16' 6-3/4". Troy Cooper and Ian Jarman also collected NCAA regional-qualifying marks in the shot put and hammer throw, respectively, with throws of 59' 9" and 195' 5".
· Finally, freshman Terrence Somerville collected a regional mark in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.14 seconds. Somerville bested his time in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.06 at the All-Ohio Championships.
· Freshman Eric Finan shattered the 1,500 meter freshman record with a time of 14:29.66, which also was a Gettler Stadium record, at the Early Bird Relays.
· 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".
· 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.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats travel to Villanova, Pa., to compete in the 2009 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 1-3.