June 23, 2005

Queens, NY - Two current and two past St. John's University track and field standouts will compete this weekend in qualifying meets for their respective countries. Graduate student Kerrian Stewart (Kingston, Jamaica) and senior Blessing Egwu (Queens, NY) will compete in the Jamaican and Nigerian National Championships, respectively, in hopes of making their national teams. Both meets will serve as qualifying meets for this year's World Championship in Helsinki, Finland in August.

Stewart completed a championship season for the Red Storm, winning Metropolitan titles in the 60m, 100m and 200m; BIG EAST titles in the 60m and 400m; and ECAC championships in the 60m and 100m. She ended her collegiate career, placing ninth at the NCAA Regional Championships, clocking 53.28 in the 400m.

Egwu also had a stellar final season, winning Metropolitan titles in the 20lb. weight and hammer throws, a BIG EAST championship with a 192'2 toss in the hammer, and also a third place finish in the hammer at the ECACs. Along with Stewart, she represented St. John's at the NCAA regionals, placing 17th in the hammer.

In addition, St. John's track & field alums Chris Graff ('98) and DeWayne Barrett ('05) will compete, respectively, in the United States and Jamaican nationals as they also bid to represent their nation at the World Championships.

"We are very proud of Kerrian, Blessing, Chris and DeWayne, as we wish them well competing in their national championships," said St. John's head coach Jim Hurt. "They all share a passion to be the best the can be and have worked hard to develop their abilities to the highest levels at the national scale. The opportunity to compete in the World Championships is a testament to their desire to reach the top level of the sport. We take great pride in our program's continued development of athlete's of this caliber."