Track And Field Wraps Up Memorable Meyo Invitational

February 8, 2003

Luke Watson, Selim Nurudeen and Molly Huddle steal the show for Notre Dame.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- (2-8-03) The 2003 Meyo Invitational wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with some memorable performances by several Notre Dame athletes.

It might be difficult to look past Luke Watson's monumental victory in the Meyo Mile (SEE story that follows), but Notre Dame's Selim Nurudeen and Molly Huddle also posted some impressive performances.

Huddle ended up running behind Nike professional Colette Liss in the 3,000 meters and went home with a school-record effort. The Irish freshman finished second behind Liss, but was the first collegiate across the finish line in 9:14.33. That time shatters JoAnna Deeter's old school record of 9:30.82 and automatically qualifies Huddle for the NCAA indoor meet in Fayetteville, Ark., on Feb. 14 and 15. Lauren King also automatically qualified for the NCAAs in the 3,000 meters with a 9:19.52 fifth-place effort.

Huddle might be joined at the meet by sophomore Selim Nurudeen. Nurudeen came through with his best 60-meter hurdle effort of the season to win the event in 7.83. That time is far under the NCAA provisional qualifying mark and, depending on what happens until the national meet, could put Nurudeen in his first NCAA Championship field.

Nurudeen also advanced to the finals of the 60 meters and finished fifth (6.92).

Other top finishers for the Irish men included Chris Staron in the high jump (third, 2.06m) and Vincent Ambrico in the regular mile run (first, 4:11.16).

The women's team effort on Saturday was led by Meghan Horn in the shot put (fourth, 13.53m), Emily Loomis in the high jump (t-first, 1.72m), Tricia Floyd and Tameisha King in the 60 meters (fourth and fifth, respectively) and Kymia Love in the 400 meters (first, 54.23). The 4x440-yard relay team of Love, King, Tiffany Gunn and Kristen Dodd finished second in 3:42.77 - one of the fastest relays in the nation this season.

Both teams will make the trip to Windsor, Ontario, for the Windsor Team Challenge next Saturday, Feb. 15. For full results go to www.deltatiming.com and look for the "Meyo Classic" link.

Luke Watson Wins Spectacular Meyo Mile

In what might turn out to be the greatest mile race in the world this season, University of Notre Dame senior Luke Watson came through with a spectacular victory and set a new school record by out-gunning a talented group of runners at the 2003 Meyo Invitational in Loftus Sports Center Saturday afternoon.

The Meyo Mile was expected to be a great race, but nobody expected a performance of this magnitude. Watson finished in 3:57.83 and led a group of runners that posted the five fastest times in the world this season. Four of the runners will move on to the NCAA Championship with their automatic qualifying times.

Watson's 3:57.83 effort is just the second sub-four minute mile ever run by a Notre Dame athlete. Chuck Aragon accomplished the feat in 1981 when he crossed the finish line in 4:59.9.

"It is something that every runner aspires to do," Watson said after his victory lap around a packed and energized Loftus crowd.

"This program has a great history and Chuck Aragon's mile record has always been a goal for everyone to reach. I was able to get into the flow of the race and not worry about my time splits. I knew that if I could just win the race, I would be under four minutes."

Watson is now the Notre Dame record holder in four events, including the indoor 3,000 meters in which he has already qualified for a spot at the NCAA Championship this year. He finished ahead of Michigan's Nathan Brannen (3:57.96), Eastern Michigan's Boaz Cheboiywo (3:58.07), Michigan's Nick Willis (3:58.15), and Ian Connor from Nike (3:58.24).

Watson stayed at the back of the lead pack for almost half the race, keeping pace with Cheboiywo. Cheboiywo eventually picked up the pace in the last two laps and Watson moved up among the leader, eventually taking the lead in just the last 30 meters of the race.

"What a great race," Notre Dame head track and field coach Joe Piane said.

"You might never see something like that again. All of the collegiate runners in that race might move on to compete at the NCAA Championship. To see the five fastest mile times in the world in just one race is unbelievable."

The Meyo Mile has been a tradition at Notre Dame since the Meyo Invitational began in 1989. Historically, many athletes have used the elite field to break the coveted sub-four minute mile barrier.

"The talent in the field is a huge factor," Watson said.

"It is almost impossible to run under four minutes on your own. You need to have someone to run with."

Watson know owns both the indoor and outdoor mile records at Notre Dame. He ran 4:00.68 at the Minnesota Distance Classic in June of 2002.

Meyo Mile results:
1. Luke Watson, Notre Dame, 3:57.83
2. Nathan Brannen, Michigan, 3:57.96
3. Boaz Cheboiywo, Eastern Michigan, 3:58.07
4. Nick Willis, Michigan, 3:58.15
5. Ian Connor, Nike, 3:58.24
6. Gavin Thompson, Eastern Michigan, 4:00.41
7. Jordan Desilets, Eastern Michigan, 4:01.37
8. Eric Morrison, Notre Dame, 4:01.90
9. Kurt Michaelis, Youngstown, 4:02.71
10. Kevin Somok, Notre Dame, 4:03.82
11. Alex L'Heureux, Michigan, 4:04.40

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