Six athletes post NCAA qualifying marks at Solomon Husky Invitational

April 19, 2003

DEDHAM, MA- The Wheaton College men's and women's track and field teams posted six NCAA Division III national meet qualifying standards at the Solomon Husky Invitational hosted by Northeastern University Saturday afternoon at the Solomon Track in Dedham. No team scores were kept during the meet.

Five women recorded NCAA qualifying marks in the meet. On the women's side, junior Vernick Smith (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) scored an NCAA Division III national meet automatic qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles with a first place finish in 1:02.12. Sophomore Tessa Donoghue (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) posted three NCAA provisional marks on the afternoon, finishing first in the long jump (5.50m) and triple jump (11.56m) and second in the 400-meter dash (57.38). Also posting a provisional time in the 400M was senior Jana Bromell (Spencer, MA/David Prouty), who finished third in that event in 57.51. Junior Kim Spence (Barrington, NH/Dover) and sophomore Kirsten Larsen (Hampden, MA/Minnechaug Regional) also recorded provisional results in the 400-meter hurdles and javelin, respectively. Spence finished second overall, while Larsen won the javelin.

Also posting impressive finishes on the day were senior captains Kristen Cullen (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham) and Noreen Kordzeil (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango). Cullen and Kordzeil finished first and second, respectively in the 100-meter hurdles with Kordzeil also placing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles. Sophomore Kathrine Wallace (Glenmoore, PA/The Hill School) posted a second place finish in the high jump, while freshman Noelle Battista (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) finished third in the pole vault. Rounding out the top performances were three fourth place finishes by first-year athletes Aspen James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and Christina Langevin (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) in the 10,000-meter run. Wheaton's relay teams were also solid, as the Lyons placed first overall in the 4x400-meter relay in 4:02.90 and second in the 4x100M event in 49.56.

On the men's side, sophomore Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY/Albany Academy) continued to dominate the New England collegiate high jump circuit by posting another victory in the high jump. Olson has won all three high jump events he has entered this spring and including the indoor season, he has been the top collegiate jumper in 14 of the 15 meets he has participated. Olson cleared an NCAA Division III national meet provisional qualifying standard of 6' 10" in the event. Also posting top 10 finishes for the men was junior Tyrone McClain (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse), who finished sixth in the 200-meter dash, and sophomore Jamaal Rawls-Payton (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton), who placed ninth in the 110-meter hurdles.

The Lyons are set to compete this Thursday, April 24 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the prestigious Penn Relays. On Saturday, Wheaton will head to Northampton, Massachusetts for the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship at Smith College. Meet time is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Last updated on 4/21/03.
Send questions about this page to Scott Dietz or contact Wheaton College.

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