University of Tennessee Athletics
Wade and Danners Close Spring Break Tour With Titles
March 22, 2003 | Men's Track
March 22, 2003
Florida State Results | College Station Decathlon Results
COLLEGE STATION, Texas and TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Tennessee notched two winners and six regional qualifiers, two each in the 200m dash and pole vault, to cap its spring break trips to the Florida State Relays and College Station Relays.
In Tallahassee, Fla., the 200m corps headlined the day for the orange as freshman sprinter Jonathan Wade and junior Sean Lambert pulled a 1-2 sweep in the outdoor opener. Wade's time of 20.79 and Lambert's 21.20 both stand as regional qualifiers.
"We had a successful and worthwhile day to go along with yesterday's competition," assistant head coach George Watts said. "For a spring break trip we got a lot done. Jonathan Wade's performance in the 200m was the highlight of the day. It was good to have a second day of competition for the entire team and a good start to the season."
Meanwhile, in a limited outing at the College Station Relays, Rocky Danners won the pole vault with a 17-0.75 clearance, good enough to meet the regional qualifying standard. Likewise, Chandler Rice also matched the regional mark with a fifth-place, 16-0.75 leap. Also in Texas, Leigh Smith added a regional qualifier in the javelin with a fourth-place, 215-3 effort. Matt Dressler followed with a 12th-place, 187-8 mark.
Back at Florida State, Tennessee also got good news in the hurdles. Senior Karl Jennings finished runner-up with a 14.06 time, not quite as fast as his winner from Friday but still a regional qualifier. Meanwhile, Robert Boulware posted his lifetime best in the event with a 14.48 to place fifth. Damond Campbell opened up with a PR with his 14.76 clocking to earn 10th.
Senior Rondell Mershon, who opened up his 2003 effort Saturday because he didn't have indoor eligibility left, took bronze in the triple jump with a 48-6.75 effort, just a few inches off the regional qualifying standard.
Two 800m men dropped down to the 400m dash. Frank Francois ran the oval in 49.54 to earn fourth. Joakim Daun took sixth in 50.86.
Tennessee put together an average day in the relays. The Vol 4x400m relay team finished third in 3:14.92, not quite as fast as the unit's prelim time Friday. Marc Sylvester, Jennings, Alonzo Williams and Damond Campbell passed the baton for Tennessee. Two of Tennessee's strongest 400m men, Dwayne Bell Jr. and Gary Kikaya, will make this relay faster farther down the line.
The Vols took fourth in the 4x1,500m relay courtesy of Tim Kelly, Kenny Schappert, Cordis Stanfield and Steve Klein summing a 16:20.96 time. Schappert contributed the best leg for the Vols.
Also in 1,500m action, Eric Bell ran to a seventh-place, 3:53.09 time, three seconds faster than he has ever run the event before.
Tennessee didn't exactly have a red-letter day in the throws. Josh Whisman's 48-11 put took ninth in the shot. Jim Sexton failed to register a mark in the discus. However, throws coach Bill Webb was in Texas and unable to make on-site corrections or offer advice.
Tennessee returns to action next weekend at the Florida Relays in Gainesville.
