March 3, 2008

Complete Results

QUEENS, N.Y. - With five event wins, and two outdoor BIG EAST qualifying scores, the St. John's track & field team opened the outdoor season on the West Coast, testing their winter legs at the Cal State Challenge in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 1.

At the challenge, the Red Storm competed against teams from California such as Cal State Fullerton, California Poly Pomona, Cal State Los Angles, Cal State Bakersfield, and Cal State Dominguez.

"The trip worked well for us," said head coach Jim Hurt. "We got to train in excellent weather and get a jump on our outdoor season, while having the team spend a whole week together in California. The trip will definitely help us as we head to the Indoor ECAC Championships this weekend."

Junior Phobay Kutu-Akoi won the first event for the Red Storm earning a BIG EAST qualifying time of 12.23 in the 100-meter dash. Fellow junior Paula Rennalls came in third with a time of 12.43.

Sophomore Pam Petruski topped the competition in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.48. Freshman Sarah Sudbury followed close behind with a second place finish of 2:19.40. The Red Storm finished a total of six athletes in the top-9 in the event as freshmen Ashlee Payne, Shakira Best and Kim Piard crossed the tape at Nos. 5, 6, 7, respectively. Junior Tyneka Greene came in ninth at 2:30.64.

Freshman Priscilla Frederick continues to outshine the competition, even on the West Coast, as she won two events at the meet. Frederick placed first in the high jump with an outdoor BIG EAST qualifying distance of 1.68 meters (5 feet, 6 inches). The freshman also finished first in the triple jump with a distance of 9.78 meters (32 feet, 1 inch).

Fellow freshman Rachel Williams won the fifth event for the Red Storm as she placed first in the javelin throw with a distance of 32.69 meters (107 feet, 3 inches). Williams competed in three other events placing fourth in the shot put, sixth in the hammer throw and seventh in the discus throw.

Junior Venisa Clarke-Lee finished just behind Frederick in the high jump with a second place distance of 1.63 meters (5 feet, 4.25 inches). Clarke-Lee also finished fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.70.

In the 400-meter dash, senior Maxcine Foster made her 2007-08 debut clocking in at 58.75 seconds, good for a sixth place finish. Freshman Rene Cousins came in seventh at 58.99 and Asia Nettles finished ninth at 59.05.

Greene and Sudbury finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 1,500-meter run clocking in at 4:53.03 and 4:57.57.

In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Asia Davy and freshman Vanessa Thompson came in second and third with times of 1:07.19 and 1:08.54, respectively.

In field events, graduate student Kellie Brown placed fifth in the long jump with a distance of 5.27 meters, senior Dominique Eason finished sixth in the shot put and eighth in the discus throw.

In relay action, St. John's used three squads in the 400-meter event, finishing second, third and fifth.

For the most up-to-date information and statistics on St. John's cross country and track & field please visit www.RedStormSports.com or call our hotline at 1-888-GO-STORM.