May 1, 2008
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Director of Track & Field Walt Drenth
Assistant Coach Chris Bostwick
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COMING UP
The Michigan State track & field team travels to the Jesse Owens Track Classic, hosted by Ohio State on Friday-Saturday, May 2-3. Events are scheduled to begin on Friday at 7 p.m. with the men's discus.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State competed in the 42nd Annual Gina Relays, hosted by Hillsdale College last weekend. Zoe Pelbart was the story for Michigan State, as the freshman thrower finished with a regional-qualifying toss of 46.48m (152-6), over 17 feet farther than the second-place finisher.
Dustin Voss turned in an impressive performance in the 3000m steeplechase, as he came in fifth with a regional-qualifying time of 9:02.53.
In addition to Pelbart, the MSU throws teams had a strong weekend of competition. Senior Jason Brown finished first for the fourth-consecutive week, launching a distance of 17.31m (56-9 1/2), while sophomore Scott Beals soared past the competition, finishing on top for the fourth-straight week as well, with a distance of 56.28m (184-8) in the men's javelin. Senior Meagan Halliwill finished in the top three for the sixth time this season, as she came in third in the hammer throw with a distance of 56.04m (183-10).
The MSU women dominated the 5000m run, finishing three athletes in the top-five. Senior Lisa Senakiewich placed first in the event, coming in with a regional-qualifying time of 16:35.00, more than 16 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Michigan State's Emily MacLeod, who also claimed a regional-qualifying finish of 16:51.62. In addition to Senakiewich and MacLeod, freshman Emily Langenberg rounded out the top five in the 5000m run, placing fifth with a time of 17:16.71.
In the sprints competitions, freshman Yury Ratomski placed in the top 10 in two events. The Spartan freshman finished third (21.96) in the 200m and seventh (10.99) in the 100m, while junior Michael Smoot took the top spot in the 400m dash finishing with a time of 48.19.
The women sprinters enjoyed success on Saturday, as freshman Erica Mann finished first (24.80) in the 200m dash for the second-consecutive competition. Mann also took top honors in the 100m dash, coming in at 11.84. Senior Jackie Walton dominated her competition again, finishing first in the 100m hurdles (14.05) for the fifth time in as many meets. In the 400m dash, junior Amber Shelters took home second place with a time of 56.03.
The 400m relay team of sophomore Michelle Gay, senior Paris Mandy, Mann and Walton crossed the finish line first once again, posting a time of 45.99.
Along with the throws, the women's field teams had a strong day of competition on Saturday. Senior Chaquerra Allen placed second in the triple jump, earning her third top-three finish of the season in the event with a leap of 11.97m (39-3 1/4). In the women's pole vault, sophomore Katie Shaw finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with a jump of 3.70m (12-1 1/2), while senior Stephanie Miller placed seventh (3.55m/11-7 3/4).
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 three in the hammer throw at all five meets so far this season, including three first-place finishes. 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.
Jason Brown has continued to impress after not competing in the indoor season. Brown has finished first in the shot put in the past four competitons, including taking top honors at the Colonial Relays with a throw of 17.57m (57-7 3/4). The Spartan senior has finished over the regional-qualifying mark in all five meets this spring.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will compete in its last competition before the Big Ten Championships on May 16-18. The Spartans travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Len Paddock Invite, hosted by Michigan on Friday-Saturday, May 9-10.
