March 19, 2006

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It was a huge day for a number of members of the Memphis track and field teams at the Rhodes Opener, with four athletes qualifying for NCAA Regionals, and four Lady Tigers setting new U of M records. J.D. Erickson and Sivan Aballi were the top performers, with Erickson qualifying for Regionals in three events, while Aballi qualified in two.

Erickson won both the hammer and shot put setting a personal-best of 185-07" (56.58m) in the hammer, while logging an outdoor-best mark of 57-04.00 (17.47m) in the shot. The senior also finished second in the discus with a personal-best toss of 177-04" (54.05m). All three marks qualified the Memphis native for NCAA Mideast Regionals.

Aballi won the shot put with a school-record, personal-best and regional qualifying mark of 47-07.00" (14.50m), while finishing fourth in the discus with a personal-best and regional qualifying mark of 156-09" (47.78m).

Susan King added another regional mark and school record, placing third in the discus with a toss of 160-08" (48.98m). The League City, Texas native also placed third in the shot put with a throw of 43-08.00" (13.31m).

Norbert Gulyas was the fourth athlete to qualify for Mideast Regionals, doing so in the discus for the second-consecutive year, while placing third in the event with a personal-best mark of 172-07" (52.61m).

The two remaining Lady Tiger records came from Gail Lee, who won the hammer with a mark of 174-06" (53.18m), and Emily Malinowski, who finished second in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:06.75.

In addition to the regional qualifying and school record performances, several more athletes registered strong showings in the meet.

On the women's side, Daniele Riendeau took first-place in the 5000m with a time of 17:33.63. LaShunda Flake won the 100m with a time of 12.42 seconds and Josetta Brooks won the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:09.34.

Meghan Shinkwin finished second in the 1500m with a time of 4:48.21, while Cassandra Harding was runner-up in the triple jump with a leap of 35-06.75" (10.84m).

For the men, Amaechi Oselukwue won the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.88. Sam James won the 400m with a time of 48.72. Willie Green won the 100m with a time of 10.81 and Larry Harris won the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.27.

Brandon Winbush finished second in both long jump and triple jump with leaps of 23-08.00" (7.21m) and 42-00.75" (12.82m), respectively, while Jarred Jones placed second in the 400m with a time of 49.76.

The Memphis track and field teams will be back in action next Friday and Saturday when they split up and travel to the Southern Illinois Spring Classic in Carbondale, Ill., and the Ole Miss Dual meet in Oxford, Miss.