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Coverage : Weekend review for January 17, 2004

      (a= NCAA auto, p= NCAA provisional)

Trackshark.com
Bookman went auto in the 200 meters (Kansas sports photo)

Arkansas Invitational

It was quite the treat at the Arkansas Invitational on Friday night as Leo Bookman of Kansas and Kelly Willie of LSU both met the NCAA automatic qualifying marks in the 200 meters. Bookman, the NCAA defending champion, blazed around the Tyson Center in 20.81 to edge out Willie in 20.83. This was also after Bookman placed second in the 400 meters to another LSU standout, Pete Coley, as he claimed the title in 46.35.

LSU's Mallory McDonald opened her season in style while winning the weight throw with her NCAA provisional mark of 62-6. McDonald's teammate, Nicole Toney, placed second in the triple jump with her provisional mark of 42-02.75.

Yuliana Perez, the two-time USA Outdoor triple jump champion, won the title with her leap of 44-06. It's not clear at this point why she competed unattached since she is currently on Arizona's roster for the 2004 season.

LeJuan Simon got his ticket to Arkansas early as well with his NCAA automatic mark in the triple jump. His second place finish of 53-09 was behind former Arkansas standout Melvin Lister who won in 54-03.75. Over in the pole vault, LSU's Daniel Trosclair won by a fair margin with his provisional clearance of 17-08.50.

It was the LSU show again in the 400 meters as Hazel Regis won the women's race in 53.01 and Pete Coley claimed the men's race in 46.35, which were both provisional marks. Tyson Gay made his Arkansas debut as the former Barton CC star won the 60 meters in 6.65.

All eyes were on Muna Lee of LSU as she made her season debut in the 60 meters while cruising to the title in 7.40. Lee's teammate, Lori Jones, placed second in 7.44 as both times met the provisional standard. Many expected to see Veronica Campbell of Arkansas compete, as the Jamaican star decided to sit this meet out.

The short hurdles proved to be exciting as Ranysha LeBlanc of LSU edged out former Razorback Gigi Miller, 8.32 to 8.34. Antwon Hicks of Ole Miss was the first collegian in the 60 meter hurdles with his provisional time of 7.76. Mike Thomas of Arkansas placed right behind Hicks in 7.84.

Tiffany McWilliams of Mississippi State made her season debut as one of the favorites for the NCAA title in the mile run as she ran 4:48.13 which met the provisional standard.

Trackshark.com
Barrett set a new standard in the weight throw (Frebergsports.com)

Florida Intercollegiates

It was a day that Kim Barrett will never forget. At the Florida Intercollegiates on Saturday, Barrett set the collegiate record in the weight throw, reaching 22.72m/74-6.50. Barrett's effort in the weight throw was an NCAA automatic qualifying mark and teammate LaQuanda Cotten's third-place throw of 22.00m/72-2.25 in the same event was also an automatic mark.

Barrett wasn't finished as she also placed second the shot put with an NCAA automatic bid of 55-01.50. Teammate Candice Scott, who is known for the hammer throw, proved her capabilities in the shot as well with her winning toss of 55-03.75.

Miami's Tabia Charles exploded in the women's triple jump with her winning mark of 44-04.75 which earned her an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Florida's Josh Walker captured the 55 meter hurdles in 7.20 while Novlene Williams of Florida took home the 400 meters for the women with her time of 53.10p.

Kentucky Invitational

In the first day of action on Friday night, Ohio State's Dan Taylor followed up with another big throw in the weight with his NCAA automatic toss of 73-7.25. Taylor set an American collegiate record in the weight throw at the Buckeye Invitational last week with a throw of 76-2.25. Fellow Buckeye thrower Amarachi Ukabam completed the Ohio State sweep in the weight with an automatic qualifier of her own at 65-7.75.

Another Buckeye, Keturah Lofton, had a strong second place effort of 65-3.50, which also served as an automatic mark. Gisele Oliveira of Clemson won the triple jump with her provisional mark of 43-02.50.

The second day of action saw Dan Taylor at it again as this time he went automatic and set a new facility record in the shot put with his toss of 66-05.25. Jeff Chakouian of Kentucky placed second with his provisional mark of 63-11. South Carolina's Ronnetta Alexander claimed the 60 meter hurdles with her time of 8.25.

The 100 meter champion from the outdoor season, Mardy Scales of Middle Tennessee, got off on the right foot so far this season as the senior won the 60 meter dash in 6.63 which fell just short of the automatic standard.

They're known for their quarter-milers and the South Carolina women proved that once again. Stephanie Smith won the 400 meters in 53.60p while her teammate Shevon Stoddart placed second in 53.93p on the oversized track. Jonathan Fortenberry took home the men's title as the Gamecock came through in 47.13p. It was a hot battle in the women's 4x400 meter relay as South Carolina edged Clemson, 3:36.46p to 3:36.80p

Oklahoma Classic

Norman, Oklahoma was home to the Oklahoma Classic on Saturday which saw several NCAA qualifying marks. DaBryan Blanton led the Sooners in the 60 meter dash with his winning automatic mark of 6.62. The time also set a facility record which was previously held by Kim Collins of TCU.

Jeremy Wariner of Baylor cracked 47 seconds in his first meet of the season as the sophomore won the 400 meters in 46.96 which was good enough for the provisional standard. TCU's Jerry Harris also met the standard as he placed second to Wariner in 47.06. Hannes Hopley of SMU rounded out the meet with his winning performance in the shot put of 63-03.50.

Houston Indoor Opener

It was Sanya Richards once again stealing the show at the Houston Opener as the super sophomore earned an automatic bid in the 60 meter dash with her time of 7.26. Freshman Jerrika Chapple of Texas turned in a provisional qualifier in the 400 meters as she placed first in 54.02 to lead a 1-2-3 finish for the Longhorns.

Another Longhorn, Raasin McIntosh, blazed an 8.13 in the finals of the 60 meter hurdles to win easily. Stephanie Sowell of Northwestern State came away with the triple jump title with her mark of 42-10.25. Andra Manson made his Texas debut in grand style as he tied for first in the high jump with Marcus Harris of Texas Southern as they both cleared 7-03.75. Kingsley Idemudia of Texas Southern and Tristian Whitley of Houston both managed to get over 7-01.50.

Central Michigan quad

The Chippewas hosted Notre Dame, Michigan State and Western Michigan at Jack Skoog Track on Friday night. Highlight's included Steve Manz of Michigan State winning the shot put in NCAA provisional fashion with his throw of 59 feet even. Selim Nurudeen of Notre Dame hit the provisional standard during the prelims of the 60 meter hurdles with his time of 7.90. Nurudeen also claimed the final in 8.02.

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Note: Free time permitting, the Trackshark weekend review is updated frequently over the weekend and completed by every Sunday night upon the posting of all results. If there is anything that we have overlooked, such as a student-athlete who earned an NCAA Division I automatic qualifying mark or any other big performance that broke any records, feel free to contact us and we'll publish it on a timely matter.