University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Volunteer Assistant Andy Bloom Wins USATF Shot Title
March 04, 2000 | Women's Track
ATLANTA, Ga. - Two Lady Vols were unable to better their NCAA provisional marks, but Tennessee volunteer assistant coach Andy Bloom successfully defended his 1999 shot put crown with a career-best throw at the 2000 USATF Indoor Championships in Atlanta's Georgia Dome on Saturday.
The second-year UT field events aide uncorked a lifetime best heave of 70-10.50 to take top honors and outdistance his nemesis, Kevin Toth, by nearly six feet. The effort was Bloom's first ever past the 70-feet mark and a big jump over last year's victorious throw of 68-3.75.
As for a pair of Lady Vols who were looking to increase their chances for a berth in next weekend's national meet in Fayetteville, Ark., they came up a little short. Sprinter Heather Sumpter and shot putter Andrea Pappas were on hand to compete in the premier indoor meet in the United States but were unable to ascend on their respective provisional lists.
Though she didn't drop her 60m dash time, Sumpter had a strong showing in advancing to the semifinals with a 7.44 in the prelims to finish fourth in her heat. She came back in the semifinals to post an even better 7.41 reading on the clock and just missed advancing to the final, placing ninth overall. With her current national ranking of 13th at 7.37, she should get the nod for nationals anyway.
For Pappas, it will probably be a case of changing gears and preparing for the outdoor campaign. Her best throw on Saturday was 48-10, which did not get her into the finals. Entering the meet she ranked 31st in the country at 49-5.
Former Lady Vols in action at the USATF meet included Kelli White, who was seventh in the 60m dash (7.37) and fifth in the 200m dash in 23.42; Tracy Carrington, who tied for 15th in the pole vault at 12-6.25; and Michelle Bookman, who didn't advance past the 60m trials with her 7.59 reading.
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE INDIANA USATF INDOOR MEET IN BLOOMINGTON, IND.
Three University of Tennessee Lady Vol pole vaulters were unable to better their NCAA provisional qualifying marks on Friday night, but Diane Slinden nailed a school-record toss in the weight throw at the Indiana University USATF meet in Bloomington.
Slinden, a sophomore from Menomonie, Wis., came up with a UT-best effort of 53-3.50 to place seventh in an event she decided to enter at the last minute. Her heave outdid teammate Andrea Pappas' mark of 51-5, which was forged at the Gator Invitational on Feb. 6. Slinden also took fifth in the shot with a measurement of 44-7.50.
As for the vaulters, Christie Elwin, Beth Gehring and Lesly Love were in action with hopes of improving their chances for a bid to next week's national meet. It was not to be, as Elwin cleared the second-best mark of her collegiate career at 12-4 to place fourth, while Gehring and Love settled for a tie for sixth with clearances of 11-7.25. All three are on the bubble for receiving NCAA bids with Elwin in the best shape at 12-8 (t14), while Love and Gehring (12-6.75) are tied for 19th. Incidentally, 19 was the number of entrants at last year's national indoor meet in Indianapolis.
LADY VOLUNTEER RESULTS USATF Indoor Championships- Atlanta, Ga./Indiana USATF Meet - Bloomington, Ind. March 3-4, 2000
EVENTS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 3@ Indiana USATF Meet, Bloomington, Ind.EVENT (NCAA QUALIFYING MARKS) Pole Vault (Auto: 4.00, Prov: 3.65) 4th Christie Elwin 12-4/3.76m+ t6th Lesly Love 11-7.25/3.54m t6th Beth Gehring 11-7.25/3.54mShot Put (Auto: 16.10, Prov: 14.90) 5th Diane Slinden 44-7.50/13.60mWt. Throw (Auto: 19.20, Prov: 17.70) 7th Diane Slinden 53-3.50/16.24m!srEVENTS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 4@ USATF Indoor Championships, Atlanta, Ga.EVENT (NCAA QUALIFYING MARKS) 60m Trials (Auto: 7.30, Prov: 7.44) 11:10 a.m. 4th/ht. Heather Sumpter 7.44p+ (Advanced)60m Semis (Auto: 7.30, Prov: 7.44) 12:10 p.m. 5th/ht. Heather Sumpter 7.41p+ (Didn't Adv.) Shot Put (Auto: 16.10, Prov: 14.90) 1:10 p.m.NA Andrea Pappas 48-10/14.88m (Didn't Adv.)KEY b - Banked Track Qualifying Standard f - Facility Recordp - Prelimssr - School Record (Indoors) tr - Track Record (Indoors)* - NCAA Automatic Qualifier+ - NCAA Provisional Qualifier ! - Personal Record (Indoors)^ - Oversized Track Qualifying Standard
