NOTRE DAME MEN FIRST, WOMEN SECOND AFTER FIRST DAY
AT BIG EAST OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 6th, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Peggy Curtin
(219) 631-7516
Irish distance and field event success keep both teams in the running
for team titles
(PISCATAWAY, N.J.) - - The Notre Dame men's and women's outdoor
track and field teams are in contention for team titles at the 2000
BIG EAST Outdoor Championships being held May 6 and 7 in Piscataway,
N.J. The men stand in first place after the first full day of competition
with 76 points, followed by Connecticut (41) and Georgetown (35). The
women are in second place with 44 points, behind Villanova (57) and
ahead of Rutgers and Pittsburgh with 31 points, respectively. Both teams
are in search of their first titles since beginning BIG EAST conference
competition in 1996. The men's distance specialists were the highlight
of the day for the Irish. Cross country All-American junior Ryan Shay
(Central Lake, Mich.) won the 10,000 meters in 31:06.29, followed by
senior teammate Mike Griewe (Tampa, Fla.) in second at 31:20.98. The
Irish almost completed a 1-2-3 sweep when senior Sean McManus (Hernando,
Fla.) placed fourth (31:4.04).
Sophomore Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn.) dominated the men's steeplechase,
finishing in 9:00.25, nearly seven minutes faster than the second place
finisher.
The women's team was led by their field event specialists. Freshman
Jamie Volkmer (Kearney, Neb.) won the pole vault by clearing 11'9 3/4".
Volkmer improved her own school record with the effort and wins her
first BIG EAST individual title after finishing second in the indoor
pole vault at the 2000 BIG EAST indoor meet. Sophomore Dore DeBartolo
(Aurora, Ill.) placed second in the shot put, bested by a meet record
throw from Cheree Hicks of Syracuse.
Senior Emily Bienko (Tranquillity, NJ) set a school record in the heptathalon
with 4570 points and a second place finish, eclipsing her own school
record set last year at the BIG EAST meet.
Action continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. with the sprints and the remaining
field and distance events.
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