April 22, 2006

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Memphis men's 4x100m relay team qualified for NCAA Regionals and a pair of Lady Tiger distance runners, along with a thrower, set new school records to headline the action for the U of M at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

The Tiger 4x100m relay team of Daniel Bandy, Daemien Jefferson, Marcus Thomas and Willie Green recorded a second-place finish, but more importantly qualified for Mideast Regionals with a time of 40.51. That makes them the second U of M men's 4x100m team to meet the regional standard since the regional format began four years ago.

Junior Daniele Riendeau claimed the first of three Lady Tiger records, breaking the school mark in the 5000m, while taking medalist honors in a time of 17:14.82 and placing her name in the record books for a sixth time.

Freshman Emily Malinowski registered the second school record, breaking the Lady Tiger mark in the 3000m with a time of 9:58.94 in a fourth-place finish. The school best is her second of the year, as she previously broke the U of M mark in the 3000m steeplechase.

Gail Lee posted the third record, along with a new Regional qualifying mark in the hammer, surpassing her own school mark with a toss of 184-02" (56.13m) in a third place finish. The junior also placed second in the shot put with a regional qualifying distance of 52-04.75" (15.97m), though that effort did not better her regional mark from last weekend.

In other top performances, Chen Edri won the high jump with a season-best effort of 5-08.00" (1.73m), also placing third in the javelin with a throw of 128-09" (39.24m).

Josetta Brooks and Whitney Bolton each took runner-up honors, with Brooks finishing second in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.54 and Bolton placing second in the pole vault with a clearance of 10-11.75" (5.35m).

For the men, J.D. Erickson was the top individual finisher, as he won the shot put with a throw of 57-02.00" (17.42m), while also claiming the discus with a throw of 168-09" (51.43m).

Tyler Frazier was the second-highest finisher for the Tigers, as he placed second in the javelin with a throw of 182-08" (55.67m).

Several additional athletes on both sides posted top-seven showings over the course of the two-day meet.

Susan King placed fourth in the discus with a mark of 153-05" (46.76m). Carrie Corbett placed fourth in the 5000m with a time personal-best time of 17:58.65. Sivan Aballi finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 149-03" (45.49m) and sixth in the shot put with a toss of 46-01.50" (14.06m). LaShunda Flake finished fifth in the 100m with a time of 11.95 and seventh in the 200m with a time of 24.83, while Ashley Stewart finished sixth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:06.69.

Cassandra Harding and Gaylon Muhammad each logged season-bests and finished sixth and seventh, respectively in the triple jump with leaps of 36-11.00" (11.25m) and 36-07.50" (11.16m).

For the men, Norbert Gulyas placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 159-08" (48.67m). Willie Green finished fifth in both the 100m and 200m, recording a personal-best time of 21.49 in the 200 and a season-best time of 10.65 in the 100. Amaechi Oselukwue finished fourth in the 110m hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.99 and Greg Norrid finished sixth in the javelin with a throw of 154-05" (47.08m).

Elliot Montesi and Brian Prackett each logged a season best of 13-11.25" (4.25m) in the pole vault, as Montesi placed sixth and Prackett placed eighth based on jumps.

The U of M track and field team will now have a weekend off to prepare for final exams, but will be back in action in two weeks at the ASU Mini Meet, the final tune-up before C-USA Outdoor Championships.