Jabari Greer of Tennessee won the 110 hurdles in 13.32 (utsports.com)

SEC Championships

It was the distance events that held up the Arkansas men and throwing events that propelled the Florida women to the team titles at the SEC Outdoor Championships.

Led by Karen Freberg, the lady Gators scored 34 points alone in the shot put on Sunday which moved them along the pace.

The performer of the weekend, however, went to Tiffany McWilliams of Mississippi State. McWilliams first claimed the 1500 meters in 4:12.18 and then came back to win the 800 meters in 2:02.74.

On the strength of Alistair Cragg and Daniel Lincoln of Arkansas, the Razorbacks took home another SEC team title. Cragg claimed the 5,000 meters on Sunday in 13:41.04 while Lincoln claimed the steeplechase on Saturday in 8:32.85.

Action on Friday saw Florida take the top four spots in the hammer as Candice Scott threw 217-10 to earn top honors.

In the men's 10,000 meters, Arkansas took the top three spots as Alistair Cragg finished up in 28:42.73 to take the title. The Razorbacks scored 29 points in the event.

Stephen Harris of Tennessee won the decathlon with his score of 7871 while Auburn's Maurice Smith was second in 7739.

Elva Goulbourne of Auburn won the long jump with her leap of 22-05 while Daniel Lincoln of Arkansas charged ahead to claim the steeplechase with his time of 8:32.85.

The 4x100 meter relay finals provided no surprise as the LSU women came away with the event as they clocked 43.22. The men's side saw Tennessee take the event as the Vols ran 38.92.

Jabari Greer of Tennessee -- who won the NCAA 60m hurdle title indoors -- won the 110 meter hurdles in 13.32. It was a tight finish for second as it was awarded to Kenneth Ferguson of South Carolina who ran 13.53.

LSU took the top three spots in the 100 meter hurdles as the title went to Lolo Jones in 13.05. Teammate Muna Lee was the top finisher in the 100 meters with her time of 11.12. Erica Whipple of South Carolina was second in 11.15.

DeHashia Trotter of Tennessee upset the rest of the field in the women's 400 as she clocked 51.65. Meanwhile, Otis Harris of South Carolina claimed the men's 400 meters in 45.28.

The men's 100 meters went to Marquis Davis of Mississippi State as he came through in 10.13. Teammate Pierre Browne was second in 10.16.

Marc Sylvester of Tennessee came away with the 800 meter title with his time of 1:46.56. Robbie Stevens of Arkansas was second in 1:46.62 and Peter Etoot was third in 1:46.88.

Tiffany Mcwilliams of Mississippi State raised the bar even more in the 800 meters with her time of 2:02.74. Neisha Bernard-Thomas of LSU was second in 2:03.32, Nicole Cook of Tennessee was third in 2:03.60 and Kristina Bratton of Florida was fourth in 2:04.01.

After grabbing second in the 110 hurdles, freshman Kenneth Ferguson of South Carolina came back to post a personal-best time of 48.79 in the 400 hurdles. Frederick Sharpe of Auburn also cracked 49-seconds with his second place time of 48.86.

Ryan Wilson of USC captured both hurdle titles (USC sports photo)

PAC 10 Championships

The USC men and UCLA women claimed the team titles at the PAC 10 Championships on the campus of USC. Cari Soong of UCLA led off with her winning throw of 215-11 in the hammer which set a new meet record.

Defending NCAA indoor champion Brad Walker of Washington soared to 18-02.50 in the pole vault as he secured his PAC 10 title. Yoo Kim of UCLA also cleared the same height, but placed second due to more misses.

The women's javelin went to Inga Stasiulionyte of USC as her top mark of 168-11 was good enough to round out the field.

Dan Ames of UCLA claimed the shot put with his top throw of 63-05.50 while teammate Juaune Armon leaped to 26-01 to win the long jump. Ames then came back the next day to win the discus in 196-04.

Louie Luchini led Stanford in the 10,000 meters as he came through the line first in 29:13.28. Alicia Craig of Stanford also took the women's 10,000 meters with her NCAA automatic qualifying time of 33:42.29.

Adam Kriz got things going on the final day of action on Sunday as the Oregon Duck threw 221-03 to win the hammer throw. Nick Welihozkiy of Stanford was a close second in 221-01.

Four women ran under 4:20 in the 1500 meter final as Lena Nilsson of UCLA took the top spot with her time of 4:13.21. Lauren Fleshman of Stanford was second in 4:14.68.

Grant Robison of Stanford took the men's 1500 meters with his time of 3:44.42 while USC's Dawid Jaworski cleared 7-03.75 to win the high jump.

Ryan Wilson of USC took both hurdle races as he first won the 110's in 13.42 (+3.8) and then the 400 hurdles in 49.33.

Becky Holliday of Oregon had a breakthrough performance in the pole vault as she broke the PAC 10 record and nearly came away with the collegiate with her winning clearance of 14-06.

Julien Kapek of USC leaped to 55-00.75 in the triple jump as teammate and NCAA indoor champion Allen Simms was second in 53-08.50.

Big 12 Championships

Austin, Texas - It was a Texas sweep at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, a perfect ending in the Longhorns' home venue. The Texas men and women's teams won both team titles in front of a home crowd Monday night.

The men's team won its third Big 12 outdoor track and field championship (1997, 1999, 2003), and the women won their fourth championship breaking a Big 12 record of total points tallying up 188 points.

Individually, three conference student athletes, all Longhorns were named the 2003 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships High Point Scorers.

Sanya Richards and Raasin McIntosh tied for the women's honor both scoring 22.50 points and Brendan Christian was the men's recepient with his 22 points.

McIntosh, a junior won the 100-meter hurdles for the first time, and defended her title in the 400-meter hurdles. She currently holds the top national time in the event with a time of 54.60 seconds that she recorded earlier this season.

In the 100-meter hurdles, McIntosh ran a time of 12.96 almost beating her own time of 12.90 -- fastest time in the world for this year. She also was as a member of the winning 4x400 meter relay, which gave the Longhorns the gold medal and a final total of 188 points.

Sanya Richards, a freshman standout, claimed her first Big 12 titles in the 100- and 200-meter races. In addition to Richards' individual crowns, she also ran the fastest time on the 4X400-meter relay as the first leg, clocking in at 51.6 seconds. Richards also regionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in both individual events.

Brendan Christian, another freshman sensation for the 'Horns, came out strong for the last day of the championships. The Austin, Texas, native set a stadium and meet record in the 200-meter dash for his first gold ever in the event. Christian's time also is the second fastest collegiate mark this year and the ninth fastest in the world.

In the 100-meter dash, Christian came in second place behind DaBryan Blanton of Oklahoma. At the start of the day he came in and ran the third leg in the men's 4x100 meter relay and helped his team break a Big 12 meet record with a time of 39.28. Christian finished off the evening in the men's 4x400-meter relay again in the third leg as they took a third-place finish behind Baylor and Texas Tech.

Now with the conference officially over, a host of Big 12 student athletes look on to compete and win national team and individual championships at the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., at the University of California campus.

Big 10 Championships

MINNEAPOLIS – The Michigan women took another step towards establishing itself as a Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field dynasty Sunday in Minneapolis, as the Wolverines captured their second consecutive Conference title. The victory was anything but easy for Michigan, though, and was not confirmed until the final two events of the day.

Heading into the 4x400-meter relay and with the high jump competition still being contested, just three points separated the top three teams in the standings, Michigan, Indiana, and Penn State. But Michigan athletes earned three top-three finishes in the remaining events to propel the team to the first place position in the standings and secure it the 2003 championship.

The Wolverines outdoor title completes their sweep of the Big Ten running championships this season, as Michigan won the cross country crown in the fall and the indoor track & field title earlier this year.

Indiana and Penn State finished tied for second place. Each runner-up totaled 124 points. Ohio State placed fourth with 83 points and Wisconsin rounded out the top five with 74 points. Following the Badgers in the final team standings were Iowa (70), Illinois (66), Purdue (49), Minnesota (47), and Michigan State (45), respectively.

On the track, the day began with competition in the 4x100-meter relay. The Indiana quartet of Rose Richmond, Ara Towns, Rachelle Boone, and Danielle Carruthers defended its 2002 title by speeding to victory with a time of 44.06. The team bettered its effort of a year ago, a 44.22 clocking. Placing second in the event for the second consecutive year was Illinois. Chequetta Bearfield, Nicole Whitman, Shanna Pickett, and Perdita Felicien recorded a time of 44.27. Iowa finished in third place, as Nicole Charles, Shellene Williams, Jiselle Providence, and Aisha James combined to post a mark of 44.71.

Wisconsin’s Bethany Brewster repeated her 2002 championship performance in the 1,500-meters this year by taking first in the race with a time of 4:23.94. Fellow Badger Hilary Edmondson was the event’s runner-up, crossing the finish line at the 4:26.24 mark. Edmondson improved her place by one from a year ago, as the junior finished third in Madison. Michigan’s Lindsey Gallo prevented Wisconsin from securing the top three spots in the race by edging Linsey Blaisdell for third place. Gallo registered a time of 4:27.44 while Blaisdell was clocked at 4:27.88.

Illinois’ Perdita Felicien established herself at the top hurdler in the Conference by claiming the 2003 crown with a wind-aided time of 12.88. With the win, the junior made amends for her performance of a year ago when she stumbled on the final hurdle, relinquishing the lead and the title-win to Danielle Carruthers of Indiana. This year Carruthers placed second, finishing with a 12.95 mark. Molly Logan of Ohio State came across in the third position at 13.34.

In the 400-meter competition, Shellene Williams of Iowa, the top 400-performer in the Big Ten during the regular season, raced to victory with a time of 53.58. Carly Knazze of Michigan gained key points for her team with a second-place finish. Her performance was clocked at 54.61. Freshman Kou Luogon of Minnesota thrilled the Gopher partisan crowd with by placing third (54.68). All three finals times were NCAA regional qualifying marks.

In the championship’s ultimate speed event, the 100-meters, Connie Moore of Penn State successfully defended her 2002 crown by placing first with a time of 11.37. Moore’s mark was a Bierman Track record and NCAA regional qualifier. Indiana sprinters followed Moore in second and third place. Danielle Carruthers posted a time of 11.50 and was immediately trailed by her teammate Rachelle Boone (11.51). Sierra Hauser-Price of Michigan also ran a brilliant race, finishing just .01 behind Boone in fourth.

Michigan acquired more crucial team points in the 800-meters, as Rachel Sturtz, the 2002 outdoor and 2003 indoor champion in the event, won this year’s edition in a time of 2:06.17. She improved upon her 2002 mark, which was clocked at 2:07.45. Hilary Edmondson of Wisconsin finished in second place, just over two seconds behind Sturtz, with a time of 2:08.82. The Badger junior also placed second earlier in the day in the 1,500-meters. Finishing in third place was Renee Kaylor of Michigan State (2:10.38).

The Wolverines continued their string of wins with a title victory in the 400-meter hurdles. Vera Simms claimed her second consecutive 400-meter hurdles crown in a time of 58.78. Crowd favorite Shani Marks of Minnesota crossed the finish line in second place at the 59.27 mark. Melissa Talbot of Wisconsin, competing in her first Big Ten postseason event, secured third place with a time of 59.31.

Rachelle Boone helped to keep the Hoosiers in the hunt for the team championship with a title win the 200-meters. Boone dashed to the victory with a 22.87 clocking. Last year’s 200-meter champion, Connie Moore claimed the runner-up spot with a time of 23.08. Sierra Hauser-Price edged challenger Danielle Carruthers for third place. Hauser-Price posted a time of 23.80 while Carruthers ran a 23.85.

Bethany Brewster earned her second individual championship of the day by winning the 5,000-meters. The Wisconsin senior beat out Michigan State distance specialist and 2003 10,000-meter champion Jamie Krzyminski for the title. Brewster was timed at 16:39.21 while Krzyminski was clocked at 16:42.35. Michigan freshman Rebecca Walter crossed in the third position at the 16:53.06 mark.

In the final running event of the day and the championship, the 4x400-meter relay, the Iowa foursome of Aisha Hume, Nicole Charles, Sarah Steffen, and Shellene Williams raced to the title-win with a time of 3:38.95. Minnesota’s relay squad consisting of Lisa Mickelson, Shani Marks, Rachel Schutz, and Kou Luogon finished in second place with a time of 3:40.41. Michigan greatly aided its cause by placing third. The team of Shavonne Maclin, Rachel Sturtz, Sierra Hauser-Price, and Vera Simms registered a time of 3:40.58. Indiana, who had posted the top time in the League during the regular season, finished a disappointing sixth.

In addition to the multitude of individual championships earned in running events today, a number of impressive title-winning performances highlighted the field event competitions.

Shani Marks won the 2003 triple jump championship with a wind-aided leap of 44-11. Penn State’s Chi-Chi Aduba garnered second place honors with a jump of 44-3½. Nicole Whitman of Illinois secured third place with an effort that measured 42-10¾.

Ohio State built upon its strong throwing tradition today as Buckeyes captured first and third place in the discus competition. Freshman Amarachi Ukabam won the title while senior Krista Keir, the defending Big Ten champion, finished two spots back. Penn State senior Deshaya Williams threw the disk 170-11, good enough for second place.

Tami Smith of Ohio State secured back-to-back high jump championships by clearing a top height of 5-11¼. Michigan sophomores Stephanie Linz and Jennifer Kulchar placed 2-3 in the event. Linz’s best effort was a jump of 5-10½ while Kulchar leaped a top height of 5-8.

The University of Minnesota ended Wisconsin’s three-year reign as Conference champions by winning the 2003 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships at their home venue, Bierman Track & Field Stadium with a new League-record of 168.5 points. It’s Minnesota’s fifth Big Ten title and the Gopher’s third in the last six seasons after finishing second in 2000 and last year when they were just 4.5 points behind Wisconsin.

Purdue was second with 148 points marking the Boilermakers best finish since they were runners-up in 1990. Indiana took third place with 113 points, which is the Hoosiers best finish since they were second in 1992. Ohio State finished fourth with 111.5 points and Penn State claimed fifth place for the second consecutive year with 81 points. Wisconsin was sixth with 61 points followed by Michigan (56), Illinois (44), Iowa (27), and Michigan State (9).

Minnesota won two events today including the final event of the championships, the 4x400-meter relay. The Gophers’ foursome of Mikael Jakobsson, Andy Wohlin, Adam Steele, and Mitch Potter finished the mile in a time of 3:09.06 to win the event for the second straight year. Penn State was second with a time of 3:10.71 and Wisconsin took third place after the Badgers completed the race in 3:11.10.

Potter also won an individual title when he led a contingent of three Gophers that placed in the top four in the 400-meter dash. Potter completed the race in 46.39 to take first place followed by Steele, who won the event in 2002, in second with a time of 46.73. Penn State’s Ernie Terrell, who was the runner-up last year, was the only non-Gopher to finish in the top four, as he took third place with a time of 46.81. Wohlin clocked in at 47.38 to finish in fourth place.

Purdue won two individual events and one team event on Sunday led by Prentice Stovall and Kenneth Baxter, each of whom won an individual title and were members of the Boilermakers 4x100-meter relay team. Those two along with Jamar Green and Jacques Reeves established a new Bierman track record with a time of 39.75 in the 4x100. Ohio State took second place completing the trip around the track in 40.46 and Minnesota was third clocking in at 40.58.

Stovall also won the 100-meter dash clocking in at 10.39 marking the second straight year that a Purdue runner has won the event. In fact, the Boilermakers swept the top four places with Baxter finishing second (10.47), Reeves, who won the event last year, taking third (10.54), and Joey Harris coming in fourth place with a time of 10.55.

Baxter’s individual title came in the 200-meter dash where he clocked in at 20.91 followed by Green with a time of 21.04. Potter from Minnesota rounded out the top three with a time of 21.18.

Ohio State also won three events on the final day of the championships getting wins from Dan Taylor, Joel Brown, and Aaron Fisher.

After a pair of second-place finishes in the hammer throw and discus, respectively, at the championships, Taylor won the Big Ten title in the shot put with a top throw of 64-8. The 2003 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year also won the event in 2002. Last year’s runner-up, Purdue sophomore Nedzad Mulabegovic, once again came in second place with a throw of 63-11.75. Minnesota’s Karl Erickson, who won the discus on the opening day of the championships, was third with a throw that measured 62-8.

Ohio State had another individual champion in the 110-meter hurdles where Brown won the race in 13.76 to establish a new track record and a USATF qualifying time. Stovall finished second with a time of 14.07 and his teammate, Jerod Void, was third after he completed the race in 14.19.

The Buckeyes final champion of the day was freshman Aaron Fisher, who won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:19.41. Minnesota’s Andrew Carlson took second place when he crossed the finish line in 14:21.73 followed by Bobby Lockhart from Wisconsin, who clocked in at 14:23.41.

Two Michigan runners won individual titles, as freshman Nick Willis won the 1,500-meter run and Nate Brannen was later victorious in the 800-meter run.

Willis finished the 1,500 in 3:52.19 to hold off Indiana’s John Jefferson, who had posted the top time during the qualifying heats. Jefferson took second place for the second straight year with a time of 3:53.54, and Minnesota’s Martin Robeck finished third for the second consecutive season, as he clocked in at 3:53.67.

The Wolverines took the top two spots in the 800 paced by Brannen’s time of 1:49.15. Andrew Ellerton was second with a time of 1:49.84 followed by Wisconsin’s Dan Murray, last year’s champion in the 800, who took third place when he completed the two laps around the track in 1:50.01.

Indiana also featured two winners during Sunday’s competition with Aarik Wilson taking first place in the triple jump and Dino Efthimiou winning the pole vault.

Wilson won the long jump yesterday and came back today to post a winning distance of 54-6 in the triple jump to win by almost two feet, marking the second straight year that he has won the event at the Big Ten Championships. Illinois’ Charles Burton recorded the second-best jump at 52-8.75, and Indiana’s Hasaan Reddick finished in third place for the second consecutive year with a distance of 51-9.75.

After finishing second last year in the pole vault, Efthimiou won the event this season with a top distance cleared of 16-8.75. His teammate, Ian Curry, improved from a fourth-place finish in 2002 to a second-place finish this year, as he also cleared 16-8.75. Purdue’s Pooh Williams also improved on his performance, for he jumped up two spots from 2002 to this year and took third place with a mark of 16-4.75.

Iowa’s Bill Neumann won the javelin competition for the second consecutive year and also set a new Big Ten Championships record when he threw the spear 237-6 to win by more than 18 feet. Purdue’s Brian Smith, who was fourth last year, was the runner-up to Neumann with his best throw going 219-4. Last year’s runner-up, Pat Miller from Indiana, placed third with a throw of 212-4.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Penn State’s Brian Derby and Jakobsson from Minnesota flip-flopped positions from a year ago with the former winning the event this season with a time of 49.72. Jakobsson was second clocking in at 50.08 and Illinois’ Adrian Walker posted the third-fastest time at 51.62.

Southland Conference Championships

SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Southland men and women outdoor track championships concluded Monday with the Ladyjacks and Bobcats claiming the 2003 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field team titles at Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University.

SFA distanced itself from the competition, notching its first-ever women's team title with a total of 157.50 points. The Bocats compiled 186 points, the second-highest team points in league history, en route to picking up their fourth men's team title. The Lamar men set the most team points record in 1984 with 229 points.

ECAC/IC4A Championships

Princeton, NJ -- After four exciting days of competition, West Virginia University won the 127th Annual IC4A Championships with 48 points, just edging out Princeton University who earned second place with 47 points.

On the women's side, University of Pittsburgh won the 20th annual ECAC Division I Women's Track and Field Championship. Pittsburgh claimed top honors with an impressive 114 points. Georgetown University claimed second place honors with 68 points.

Georgia Tech Invitational

University of North Carolina distance standout Shalane Flanagan won the 1500 meters in 4:11.60 and lowered her own Atlantic Coast Conference alltime record Friday evening at the Georgia Tech Track and Field Invitational.

The Marblehead, Mass., junior previously broke a 19-year-old ACC mark when she won the 1500 in 4:13.05 on April 19 at the ACC Championships in Raleigh. Lauren King of Notre Dame was the second-fastest collegian with her time of 4:14.12.

In other action Friday, Adrienne Blewitt of Ashland threw a personal and Division II record of 59-0 1/4 to win the shot put while Laura Gerraughty of North Carolina placed second with a throw of 57-11 3/4.

Dawn Cleary of Virginia clocked 10:05.35 in the women's steeplechase and George Kitchens of Clemson won the long jump with his leap of 25-10.75.

SDSU's Nicole Ireland was the women's high point winner with 40 points (SDSU sports photo)

Mountain West Championships

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - San Diego State won their first Mountain West Conference outdoor track & field women's championship and their first outdoor title since 1982 at the Great Friends of UNM Track Stadium today with 217 points.

The Aztecs bested three-time MWC champion BYU (206) by 11 points. The Cougars had won 21 consecutive outdoor conference titles. Colorado State finished third in women's action with 101 points, followed by Wyoming (78), Utah (73.5), Air Force (58), New Mexico (49.5) and UNLV (36).

BYU captured its fourth straight MWC men's championship, finishing with 270 points. The Cougars were followed by Colorado State (230), Air Force (129), New Mexico (91), Wyoming (76) and Utah (7).

Five all-time Mountain West Conference records -- men's hammer throw (Drew Loftin {Colorado State}, 233'), men's 110m hurdles (Tom Clark {Air Force}, 14.04), men's 400m hurdles (Greg Flint {BYU}, 49.81), men's javelin (Tim Fritz {Air Force}, 219' 6") and women's 400m dash (Jessica Fox {Wyoming} -- and seven meet championship records -- women's 100m dash (Melinda Smedley {San Diego State}, 11.43) and 4x400m relay (BYU) -- were established at this year's meet.

MWC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Notes:

· Colorado State senior Drew Loftin (Woodland Park, Colo.) broke his own Mountain West Conference record in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 233' (71.01m). The previous record was 227' 4 ½" set earlier this season.

· In qualifying, SDSU senior Melinda Smedley (Stockton, Calif.) set a new Mountain West Conference Championships record in the women's 100m dash with a time of 11.50. The previous record was 11.69 by Ayanna Hutchinson, UNLV, in 2000.

· BYU junior Lisa Antonelli (Alpine, Utah) captured the women's 3000m steeplechase with a NCAA qualifying time of 10:43.64.

· Air Force sophomore Dominique Boivin (Shoreline, Wash.) captured the women's discus with a NCAA qualifying throw of 48.42m.

· Utah senior Brooke LoBue (Visalia, Calif.) captured the women's pole vault with a NCAA qualifying height of 12' 11 ¾" (3.96m).

· Colorado State senior Drew Loftin (Woodland Park, Colo.) captured the men's discus with a NCAA qualifying mark of 197' (60.04m).

· SDSU freshman Shanon Meyer (Hesperia, Calif.) captured the women's long jump with a NCAA qualifying mark of 19' 4 ¼" (5.90m).

· Utah freshman Vanessa Mortensen (Fredensborg, Denmark) captured the women's hammer throw with a NCAA qualifying mark of 185' 06" (56.55m).

· Colorado State sophomore Mike Nicks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) captured the men's 3000m steeplechase with a NCAA qualifying time of 9:13.27.

· BYU senior Aron Szmuda (Levice, Slov. Republik) captured the men's long jump with a NCAA qualifying mark of 24' 10" (7.57m).

MAC Championships

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan -- The Central Michigan men and Eastern Michgan women came away with the team titles at the Mid-American Conference Championships on the campus of Central Michigan.

The Central Michigan men won on their home track while scoring 158 points while the Eastern Michigan women tallied up 117.50 points.

On the women's side, Andrea Kremer of Miami won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and regionally qualified with her time of 10:22.40. Sara Vergote of Toledo (10:33.03), Amber Culp of Bowling Green (10:42.07) and Kylee Studer of Miami (10:48.57) also qualified for NCAA regionals held later this month.

Buffalo's Laura Olson was the victor in women's pole vault with her jump of 13-1 3/4, just missing the MAC meet record. Kira Sims of Akron, who holds the conference all-time pole vault record was second with a 12-10 effort. Cailen Wells of Eastern Michigan and Jill Meranda of Ohio were next with identical performances of 12-0. All four ladies are regional qualifiers.

Patricia Soman of Ball State won the women's long jump with her leap of 20-9, also a regional qualifying mark. Soman also won the triple jump, 100, 200 meters and was a part of the 4x1 and 4x4 relays.

Miami's Lauren Collins won the shotput with a toss of 49-1 1/2, Kathryn Davis of Central Michigan was next with 48-8 3/4, then Kerri McClung of Bowling Green with 47-7. All regionally qualified.

Brit Klanert of Eastern Michigan won the javelin throw with a hurl of 169-9. Julie Ward, Kent State (147-4); Ashley Kaufman, Akron (139-2) and Natasha Reynolds, Central Michigan (137-9) all regionally qualified.

On the men's side, Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:59.94. Peter Weisz, Kent State; Chris Stine, Western Michigan; Ryan Clark, Miami; Justin Kempe, Ohio; Adam Cross, Miami; and Pete Remien and Jeff Davis of Central Michigan all regionally qualified.

In men's long jump, Scott Mayle of Ohio won with a leap of 25-5 1/2. Steve Wolf, CMU (24-5), Joe Baldwin, Toledo (24-3 3/4) and Dana Thomas, CMU (24-0 1/4) all qualified for regionals.

Brian Hallett of Kent State won the men's shot put at 59-9 3/4. Okey Eziuka, EMU (57-2.1/4), Byron McKinney, UB (56-5 3/4, and Pat Walderzak, CMU (54-7 1/2) all were qualifiers.

Boaz Cheboiywo of Eastern Michigan came away with three titles as the senior claimed the 10,000 (29:25.35), 5,000 (14:06.07) and 1500 meters (3:45.89).

Freshman Mike Inge of Kent State was the winner in the 800 meters with his time of 1:49.26. Jak Taylor of Toledo was first in the 400 meters with his time of 46.47.

Missouri Valley Championships

Carbondale, Ill. – As predicted in the coaches pre-championship poll, Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State earned the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field titles. Moreover, 68 student-athletes and seven relay teams from the Valley advanced to NCAA Regional competition by virtue of their performances during the league’s first conference meet ever held at night.

For the SMS women, it was a historical evening as last Fall, the Bears claimed the 2002 Cross Country Championship, in February the Bears claimed the 2003 MVC Indoor Championship, and tonight the Bears claimed the Triple Crown via the program’s third championship, the outdoor title.

Southern Illinois’ Korto Dunbar was the highest female point earner of the meet with 26 points, while Wichita State’s Casey Smith was the highest male point earner with 24 points. For their efforts, Dunbar and Smith were named the Most Valuable Female and Male Athletes of the Meet, respectively.

By a vote of league coaches, Cheasa Gibson of SMS, and Fleix Anderson of Southern Illinois, were named the Most Outstanding Female and Male Track Athletes of the Year, respectively. Beth Hilton of Indiana State and Brad Johnson of Wichita State were voted the Most Outstanding Female and Male Field Athletes of the Year, respectively.

And after directing each of their teams to the conference championship, SMS’ Ron Boyce and Wichita State’s Steve Rainbolt, were unanimously selected Coaches of the Year.

WAC Championships

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP men's track and field team claimed its 13th Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship title and its first outdoor title since 1997 Saturday at Kidd Field.

UTEP scored 198 points to win handily over SMU, which scored 146. Boise State was third with 127, while Fresno State was fourth with 102 points.

UTEP was the runner-up to SMU last year, after winning the indoor title during the 2002 season.

The Miners were carried by their sprinters and hurdlers who scored 91 points on the final day of competition.

Taiwo Ajibade, Jario Duzant and Yinka Bello took the top three spot in the 100-meter dash. Ajibade ran 10.35 edging Duzant who crossed in 10.40. Bello posted a time of 10.43.

UTEP took the spots one through four in the 200-meter dash. Duzant nipped Bello 20.86 to 20.91. Ajibade was third in 20.97, while Richard Petty finished third in 21.19.

Bello, Bryan Sears, Ajibade and Duzant made up the 400-meter relay which took its second-consecutive title in the event. The relay ran away with the victory in 39.39.

Petty was also the champion in the 400-meter dash, running a personal best 46.10.

Fresno State’s Trevor Chatterton landed the first men’s title earning 6,083 points in the decathlon. Taking second was fellow Bulldog David Frazuer, grabbing 5,816 points in the two-day event. Grabbing the bronze was Stevan Douglas who registered 5,592 points, taking home three titles. In fourth was SMU’s Paul Teinert (5,179) while Leif McMurray of Fresno State took fifth (4,519).

Ruthann Gairdner of Rice grabbed the first gold of the championship, finishing the heptathlon with 5,205 points, an NCAA provisional mark. In second was Nevada’s Maranda Brownson with 5,016, while fellow Wolf Pack Kelly grabbed third (4,931).

Rice won the championship with 172.833 points followed by Nevada with 147.333 points. UTEP moved into third position after entering the last event in sixth place.

José van der Veen of UTEP ran her final race in the 800-meter at Kidd Field, winning the event in a time of 2:06.68. Nevena Lendel of SMU claimed the high jump while clearing 6-2.

Conference USA Championships

CHARLOTTE, NC – South Florida’s women’s squad captured their first-ever Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field title, while the TCU men’s team claimed their second consecutive on Saturday at the league’s championship in Charlotte, N.C.

The Bulls claimed two individual crowns and one relay to capture its first C-USA Outdoor Team Championship with a team score of 147. Chandra Brewer and Dayana Octavien finished first and second, respectively, in the women’s shot put. Brewer notched a mark of 16-08, which was an Irwin Belk Track and Field Center record.

South Florida’s Bente General also claimed the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.03, while Houston’s Crystal Freeman followed in second (2:21.81). The Bulls concluded the meet by winning the 4x400-meter relay in a regionally qualifying mark of 3:39.61.

Marquette’s Brianna Dahm captured her second individual title of the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:26.48, while East Carolina’s Kay Livick followed in second with a regionally qualifying time of 4:26.99.

TCU’s Monica Twum won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.47, while Memphis’ Keenan Gibson placed second (11.48). Gibson would later claim her own title, winning the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.36.

On the men’s side, TCU was led by Jabari Fields who won the 100 and 200-meter titles. He posted a time of 10.25 to win the 100 dash, edging out teammate Michael Frater, who finished second in 10.26. Fields then claimed the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.59. Houston’s Stanford Routt (20.63) and Robert Foster (20.91) followed to take second place and third place, respectively.

The Horned Frogs were also victorious in the 400-meter relay with a C-USA record time of 3:05.09.

Houston’s Andrew Carruthers won the league title in the 400-meter hurdles, regionally qualifying with a time of 51.26. East Carolina’s Pat Martin also notched a qualifying time of 52.28 for second place.

Southern Miss Cedric Norman notched a C-USA meet record in the high jump with a mark of 7-05.25. TCU’s Chris Peoples (7-03.25) and South Florida’s Jimmy Baxter (7-01.50) finished second and third, respectively.

Memphis’ Gaute Myklebusts regionally qualified and captured the C-USA Outdoor title in the discus throw with a mark of 186-05. Houston’s Derek Randall finished second and also regionally qualified with a throw of 176-08.

Southern Miss’ Jeb Meschke won the javelin throw with a regional qualifying mark of 214-11. Meschke edged out his teammates Conrad Chanove (197-0) and Marvin Lucas (192-09), who placed second and third, respectively.

Big West Championships

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Women's Track Athlete of the Meet Angela Whyte was part of four event wins which propelled the Idaho Vandal women to the 2003 Big West Outdoor Championship. On the men's side, Utah State defeated the host Cal State Northridge Matadors by one point to defend its team title.

Whyte won the 100 and 200 meters, 110 meter hurdles and ran the second leg of the conference champion 4x100 relay team as Idaho piled up 213 points to win its second team title in the last three years. Cal State Northridge, the defending champion, was second with 129 points while Cal Poly came in third with 122 points.

Other event winners on a busy finals Saturday included: Cal State Northridge's Comfort Agara in the 400 meters, Cal Poly's Maggie Vessey in the 800 meters, Idaho's Daniella Pogorzeiski in the 1,500 meters, UC Santa Barbara'a Katie Appenrodt in the 5,000 meters, Cal Poly's LeBren Martin in the 400 meter hurdles.

Idaho won the 4x100 relay, while the host Matadors won the 4x400 meter relay. In the field events on Saturday, Cal Poly's Kaylene Wagner won the high jump, Idaho's Tammy Stowe in the triple jump, Cal Poly's Stephanie Brown in the discus and Idaho's Sarah Willette in the javelin.

For the Utah State men, the meet came down to a fourth place finish in the 4x400 meter relay as the Aggies' five points in the vent held off Cal State Northridge by one point, 152.5 to 151.5. The Matadors won the relay but needed Utah State to finish lower than fourth. Cal Poly wound up finishing third with 143 points.

Saturday's track event champions on the men's side included: Northridge's Rashaad Allen in the 100 meters and Hung Nguyen in the 200 meters, Cal Poly's Tyrone Ward in the 400 meters, UC Irvine's Darrell Tozier in the 800 meters, UC Santa Barbara's Bryon Lamorandier in the 1,500 meters, Idaho's Jan Eitel in the 5,000 meters, Idaho's Hugh Henry in the 110 meter hurdles and Utah State's Nick Seedall in the 400 meter hurdles.

The host Matadors took both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay events. In the field events on Saturday, Utah State's Ryan Bruhn won the hammer, Northridge's Rashaad Dixon won the triple jump, Cal State Fullerton's Giovanni Lanaro won the pole vault, Josh Sides won the shot put and Northridge's Alex Marbley won the high jump.

Idaho's Yogi Teevens was named Women's Coach of the Year, Idaho's Angela Whyte was named Female Track Athlete of the Year and Cal Poly's Stephanie Brown was named Field Athlete of the Year. Utah State's Gregg Gensel was named Men's Coach of the Year, Idaho's Jan Eitel was named Male Track Athlete of the Year and Long Beach State's Cory Loebl was named Male Field Athlete of the Year.