TicketsApril 9, 2010
CINCINNATI- The University of Cincinnati men's and women's outdoor track & field teams head to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in the 44th-annual Sea Ray Relays, beginning Friday, April 9, at 12:15 p.m. with the men's discus. The two-day meet concludes on Saturday, April 10, and will be run on the Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.
The Bearcats are now just three weeks away from hosting the BIG EAST Championships (April 30-May 2 at Gettler Stadium), and the Sea Ray Relays will serve as one of three tune-ups in preparation for that weekend.
Last weekend, the men's and women's teams were victorious in the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational, UC's second home meet of the outdoor season.
On the women's side, Natasha Burse was the Bearcats highest point scorer, winning three times in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. The junior from Garland, Texas, scored a total of 24.5 points on the day, and her 100m time of 11.93, was a season best.
Freshman Jessica Cobb was UC's second highest point scorer on the day, recording 13 points. The Cincinnati native won the javelin, with a throw of 128' 08'', good for third-best in school history.
Rounding out the day for the Bearcats was the performance in the 3,000 steeplechase by Lilian Jelimo. The senior recorded her second-fastest time in the event with a time of 10:52.73, good for third-best in school history. Jelimo currently holds the school record with a time of 10:31.54, set last year at the BIG EAST Championships.
On the men's side, senior Antione Drakeford made his return for the Bearcats and helped lead the 4x100m relay team to victory, with a time of 41.63.
Sophomore Eric Finan, focusing more on improving his speed, competed in the 1,500m, and won with a time of 3:50.73, edging out teammate Michael Rutherford, who finished in second-place with a time of 3:53.34.
Seniors Brandon Fitch, Rick King, and Jon McClelland, all notched victories in the high jump, 3,000m steeplechase, and 800m, respectively.
A season ago at the Sea Ray Relays, four current Bearcats claimed victories, including Drakeford in the 400m, Jasmine Cotten in the high jump, Jelimo in the 5000m, and Troy Cooper in the shot put.