May 3, 2008

Final Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio. - The Michigan State track & field team finished up day two of competition at the Jesse Owens Track Classic on Saturday night. Sophomore Ian Boyle turned in one of many strong performances on the night for the Spartans, finishing fourth in the men's 800m run with a regional-qualifying time of 1:49.98. Freshman Kyron Foster also claimed a regional-qualifying mark in the men's triple jump, placing third overall with a leap of 15.27m (50-1 1/4).

Freshman Zoe Pelbart had another solid performance in the women's javelin, finishing with regional-qualifying toss of 48.42m (158-10), nearly two meters further than her previous season-best of 46.48m. Sophomore Scott Beals had his second-best throw of the season in the men's javelin, placing third with a launch of 60.92m (199-10), finishing in the top-three for the fifth time this year.

In addition to Boyle, senior Kevin Dacres followed shortly after in the 800m, coming in eighth with a time of 1:53.42.

Junior Michael Smoot posted a top-10 finish in the men's 400m, placing 10th (48.08), while junior Amber Shelters crossed the finish line at 56.23, recording a seventh-place finish in the women's 400m. Smoot came up just short of a regional-qualifying time in the 200m, claiming 14th place with a time of 21.58.

In the women's 100m hurdles, senior Jackie Walton gave an impressive performance, finishing 15th with a time of 13.94, coming within .02 of a second of a regional-qualifying mark. Walton also placed 11th in the 400m (1:03.67).

Freshman Erica Mann had a season-best finish in the women's 200m, coming in ninth with a time of 24.38, and finishing in the top-10 for the fifth time in as many competitions this season.

"I think we are making great progress as we move towards the Big Ten Championships," said MSU Director of Track & Field Walt Drenth. "Ian Boyle had a great finish tonight. He has been slowed by injury, so i thought tonight was a real breakthrough for him. I was pleased with the performances of both Zoe Pelbart and Scott Beals in the javelin. Zoe is making excellent progress and that showed tonight, while Scott beat out some guys that have thrown further than him in the past. I felt Lisa Senakiewich and Emily MacLeod had great performances in the women's 5000m last night. So overall, I like our progress and the people that came with us did a great job of competing yesterday and today."

Michigan State returns to action next weekend, as it competes at the Len Paddock Invite, hosted by Michigan on May 9-10. The Len Paddock Invite will be the team's last competition before the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on May 16-18.