TicketsFeb. 19, 2011
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Cincinnati indoor track team concluded competition Saturday on the first day of the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships at Stile Field House.
After mostly preliminary rounds on Saturday, six Bearcats advanced to final rounds of seven events on Sunday.
"We are excited about the number of qualifiers," said UC track coach Chris Wineberg. "It's by far the most we've had at the BIG EAST Championships. With some of our best events scheduled tomorrow, we're in great position to finish high in the team standings."
Junior Jenna Heaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula) advanced to the finals of the 1,000-meter run with the third-best time (2:56.27) in the preliminary round. The women's 1,000-meter run is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start time on Sunday.
Junior Huana Dawkins (Columbus, Ohio/Franklin Heights) qualified for finals of the 60-meter hurdles (11:40 a.m. Sunday) after she recorded a time of 8.70 in the prelims, good for eighth place. Dawkins' teammate, Paris Campbell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid), just missed the finals, finishing in ninth place with a time of 8.72.
Advancing to Sunday's 60-meter dash (noon) was sophomore sprinter Shanay Portis (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) after she placed seventh Saturday with a time of 7.58.
Junior Aricka Rhodes (Westerville, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) had the fasted time in the 400-meter dash (55.08) and will to repeat her performance on Sunday.
Senior Natasha Burse (Garland, Texas/Richardson) will race in Sunday's 60-meter and 200-meter dashes after finshing third overall in both prelims Saturday with a times of 7.45 and 24.21, both new school records.
Kathy Klump (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) finished with the fastest time in the 500 (1:13.05), breaking the school record she set two weeks ago at the New Balance Invitational.
Additionally, UC will compete for BIG EAST Championships in the 3,000-meter run, 4x800 relays, 4x400 relays, pole vault and shot put.
Live coverage of the 2011 BIG EAST Track & Field Championships can be viewed at BIG EAST Championship Central with video streaming available at BIG EAST TV.