March 24, 2007

Results

MEMPHIS - With every meet the Memphis track team continues to set new benchmarks for itself, and its performance at Saturday's Lynx Spring Break Invitational was no exception as the Tigers and Lady Tigers combined to break four school records and earn two new regional qualifications.

A week after setting a new Memphis record in the hammer throw, Tiger athlete Steffen Nerdal smashed his own mark in the event Saturday, throwing 211-02 to win by an amazing 61 feet. Nerdal who also qualified for the NCAAs in the discus last week bettered that mark with a distance of 177-6, winning that event by 16 feet.

Another outstanding performance from Saturday was turned in by men's javelin group, particularly transfer Christian McDonald who set a new school record for the modern javelin with a throw of 213-00. Jason Theodorakas and Tyler Frazier finished second-place and third-place in the javelin respectively with throws of 190-05 and 183-11.

Two-time All-American Gail Lee recorded a mark of 50-11.5 in the shot put. While mediocre by her standards, the mark was still good enough for first place and guarantees Lee a spot in the NCAA Regionals.

Freshman Tina Sherratt broke her first school record of the outdoor season, running a 2:14.30 in the women's 800 meters. Fellow Lady Tiger Anneli Uys followed closely 2:14.36. Whitney Bolton and Ashton Baldwin both managed to clear 3.5 meters (11-5.75) in the pole vault, besting the school record height that Bolton set in 2006.

Sprinter Willie Green was just nine hundredths of second from qualifying for his second NCAA Regional with a time of 10.59 in the 100 meters.

Larry Harris led a strong showing from the Tiger hurdles group. Harris ran a 14.54 and finished second in the 110-meter hurdles. Amaechi Oselukwue and Stephon Greenlee finished third and fourth in the event.

The men's 4x400-meter relay team of Greenlee, Harris, Oselukwue and Jarred Jones won the event easily with a time of 3:17.31.

Junior Chen Edri improved two inches over her mark last week and cleared a height of 5-05.75 to win the women's high jump.

Male Athlete of the Meet
Christian McDonald
Sophomore/Javelin
Kansas City, Kan.

Qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the javelin with a throw 211-02 and set a new Memphis record in the event.

Female Athlete of the Meet
Gail Lee
Throws/Senior
Fort Worth, Texas

Qualified for the NCAA Regional in the shot put with a throw of 50-11.