April 24, 2008

Complete Release

Schedule of Events

Men's Performance List
Women's Performance List

COMING UP
The Michigan State track & field team travels to the Gina Relays, hosted by Hillsdale College on Friday-Saturday, April 25-26. The field events are set to begin on Friday at 12 p.m. with the men's hammer throw. Track competition will begin at 2 p.m. with the men's open 10,000m run.

2007 GINA RELAYS
Michigan State saw many personal bests and one regional-qualifying time at last year's Gina Relays. Highlighting for the Spartans at last year's meet was Ian Boyle who finished the 800m run with a regional-qualifying time of 1:49.50.

LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans competed at the EMU Invite on last Saturday afternoon, hosted by Eastern Michigan University. The Spartans saw solid performances on both the men's and women's sides in the non-team scored meet. Freshman Erica Mann finished first and second in the 200m (24.57) and 100m (12.01), respectively, while senior Jason Brown had a regional-qualifying toss of 17.29m (56-8 3/4), finishing first in the men's shot put for the third-consecutive competition.

In addition to Mann's impressive day, senior Jackie Walton placed first with a regional-qualifying time of 13.83 in the 100m hurdles, while also placing sixth in the 400m dash (1:04.19). Senior Lisa Senakiewich enjoyed a successful day, coming in third in the 1500m dash with a regional-qualifying time of 4:24.87.

The women's field teams turned in some solid performances on Saturday as well. Sophomore Katie Shaw took home a second-place finish in the pole vault, leaping a regional-qualifying mark of 3.85m (12-7 1/2). Senior Chaquerra Allen came in fourth in the long jump with a distance of 5.53m (18-1 3/4). Senior Meagan Halliwill finished with top-five performances in two events, coming in second in the hammer throw with a launch of 56.36m (184-11) and fourth in the discus (43.90m/144-0).

On the men's side, the throws team dominated competition once again. In addition to his top finish in the shot put, Brown finished fourth in the discus with toss of 47.29m (155-2). Scott Beals finished first in the javelin for the second-straight weekend, throwing a distance of 59.59m (195-6), while red-shirt junior Kyle Strotbaum came in third in the hammer throw, with a distance of 56.78m (186-3). Freshman Logan Lynch finished in a three-way tie for second place in the pole vault, with a leap of 4.90m (16-0 3/4), and fellow freshman Kyron Foster came in second in the triple jump, with a distance of 14.73m (48-4).

In the distance competitions red-shirt sophomore Ian Boyle came in second (1:52.02) in the 800m dash, while sophomore Spencer Beatty placed second in the steeplechase with a time of 9.29.53.

SENIOR SHOWCASE
Seniors Jason Brown and Meagan Halliwill have really set the pace for the Spartan throws teams in the outdoor season. Halliwill has placed in the top two in all-four events so far this season, including three first-place finishes in the hammer throw. Halliwill also took top honors in back-to-back weeks at the Colonial Relays (4/4) and Spartan Invite (4/12) in the discus competition.

Brown has continued to impress after not competing in the indoor season. The Spartan senior has finished first in the shot put in the past three competitons, including taking top honors at the Colonial Relays with a throw of 17.57m (57-7 3/4).

UP NEXT
Michigan State will compete at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, hosted by Ohio State, on Friday-Saturday, May 2-3.