TicketsApril 3, 2010
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's and women's outdoor track and field teams both were victorious at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational on Saturday, April 3, at Gettler Stadium. The women's team recorded 132.33 points, 22 more than runner-up Kent State, while the men's squad recorded 146 points, 11 more than second-place Ashland.
In the women's 3000m steeplechase, senior Lilian Jelimo won, with a time of 10:52.73, which is good for third best in school history. Jelimo currently holds the school record at 10:31.54, set last year at the BIG EAST Championships. The victory gave the Bearcats 10 points. Freshman Cortney Staruch notched a sixth-place finish, with a time of 11:54.35.
The men's squad opened the day with a 1-2 finish in the 3,000 steeplechase. Senior Rick King led from the get-go and posted the top time of 9:23.50, before sophomore David Barry followed with a time of 9:34.13.
In the sprints, Natasha Burse captured two victories, both in the 100m and 200m sprints. In the 100m Burse crossed the line in 11.92, the only runner to break 12.00s. In the 200m the junior was victorious, recording a blazing time of 24.47, fifth best in school history. Burse now owns two of the five fastest times in school history in the 200m.
The 1-2 finishes continued in the distance events with sophomores Eric Finan and Michael Rutherford taking the top two spots in the 1,500m. Finan stayed with the pack the first two laps, before blowing past the field to win in a time of 3:50.73, barely missing out on moving into the Top -5 in the UC record books. Rutherford used a late charge to capture eight points for UC with a time of 3:53.34. In addition to those two, Ricky Lupp placed eighth with a time of 3:58.79, ultimately giving Cincinnati 19 points in the 1,500m.
Senior Lisa Klotz finished third in the shot put, with a throw of 45'-02'', which was good for third best in school history. Klotz now has two of the top three throws in school history. Last season at the BIG EAST Championships she threw a personal best 46' 0-3/4'', which currently ranks second all-time. Freshman Jessica Cobb placed sixth with a throw of 44' 05''.
Despite finishing second in the 110 hurdles, sophomore Terrance Somerville still tacked on 10 points to the UC score with a time of 14.40 in the 110m high hurdles. Somerville got off a great start, but was edged out by Dane VanBuren, who was competing unattached and clocked in at 14.29.
In the women's 100 hurdles, sophomores Brianna Patton and Paris Campbell placed fourth and seventh with times of 14.62 and 15.30 giving the Bearcats a combined seven points.
Freshman Shanay Portis finished second in the long jump, with mark of 18' 06''.
Senior Antione Drakeford made his return to the track after suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the winter and did not disappoint in his comeback. Drakeford crossed the line in 10.82 in the 100m to place third.
In Drakeford's best event, the 400 meters, senior Chase Van Cura and Jason Berling combined to give UC five points with a fifth and eighth-place finish, respectively.
Later in the day, the men's team got another win in the 800 meters from Jon McClelland as he held on for the win timing in at 1:54.48. In the second heat, Finan ran his first 800m race of the season and won the heat and finished 3rd overall with a time of 1:55.80.
Ethan Freet and Chase Petzinger both recorded Top 10 finishes in the 400m hurdles, giving UC eight total points in the event. Freet finished third with a time of 55.28, while Petzinger, placed seventh, with a time of 56.34.
In the field events, the Bearcats continued show that the men's high jump is one of the strengths of the team. Three UC athletes scored in the event, led by Brandon Fitch's first-place height of 6' 10", while Mike Foley and Ryan Beltz finished seventh and eighth with leaps of 6' 6".
Zach Schmidt notched a leap of 43' 3-3/4" to place fourth in the triple jump, adding five points to the UC score. Troy Cooper and Chris Littleton added a fifth and sixth-place showing, respectively, in the discus with throws of 158' 8" and 157' 9-1/4".
Freshman Bridget McNeill and senior Lisa Klotz continued to score points in the throwing events placing seventh and eighth in the discus. McNeill threw 130' 3" to place seventh, while Klotz's throw of 129' 8" was good for eighth.
In the men's shot put, junior Troy Cooper finished fourth, with a mark of 54'-04'', while junior Chris Littleton finished seventh with a mark of 54'-01''.
Senior Elliot Vocke finished third in the men's pole vault, recording a vault of 14'-05''. Sophomore Ben Hall recorded a fifth-place finish with a vault of 13'-11''.
In the women's pole vault, sophomore Michelle Eby tied for second with a vault of 11'-09'', giving the Bearcats 6.33 points, while seniors Stefanie Ponte and Kayla Dunn finished seventh and 10th, with vaults of 11'-04'', respectively.
The javelin, the final event of the day for the women's team, saw two Bearcats record Top 10 finishes, including a victory by freshman Jessica Cobb, with a throw of 128'-08'', good for fourth best in school history
In the relays, both the men and the women swept the 4x100 with the women's squad registering a victorious time of 46.58, while the men's team edged out Ashland with a time of 41.63.
The Bearcats are back in action next weekend when they travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Sea Ray Relays.