University of Tennessee Athletics
NO. 5 TENNESSEE WOMEN TRAVEL TO PENN STATE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
January 25, 2006 | Women's Track
Jan. 25, 2006
PSU Invitational Notes in PDF Format
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee women's track & field team will compete in one of the nation's best indoor facilities on Friday and Saturday, as the fifth-ranked Lady Vols take part in the Penn State National Invitational at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track in University Park, Pa.
The Ashenfelter facility's 200-meter hydraulic-lift, wide-banked oval has a reputation for being one of the country's fastest indoor tracks, and fourth-year head coach J.J. Clark's charges have thrived on it during previous trips to Happy Valley. The Big Orange women hope to do the same in 2006 and expand on a trio of NCAA provisional qualifying marks that they have established thus far.
Those currently possessing qualifying marks are senior Ariel Brooks (Miami, Fla.) in the weight throw at 67-0.75, sophomore Cleo Tyson (Huntsville, Texas) in the 60 meters at 7.37 (converted from a 6.85 55m time) and Patricia Hall (St. Ann, Jamaica) in the 400 meters at 53.46 (converted from a 53.76 flat track time). Hall's effort ranks first among NCAA women this season, while Tyson stands at fifth, and Brooks is eighth.
Returning All-Americans who hope to start landing NCAA berths include sophomores Courtney Champion (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and LaTonya Loche (Bastrop, La.) in the sprints as well as junior Felicia Guliford (Gallup, N.M.) and senior Brooke Novak (Kaukauna, Wis.) in the distance events. UT's highly-regarded distance medley and 4x400m relays are also in need of making the NCAA qualifying list.
Action is slated to get underway for UT at noon on Friday with the pentathlon. Senior Caitlin Ward (Gibsonia, Pa.) is scheduled to make her third straight appearance in the competition. She was second in 2004 and grabbed third a year ago. Other Lady Vol highlight events on day one include the weight throw, the 5000 meters, the 60-meter dash and the distance medley relay. Friday action should conclude around 9:15 p.m.
On Saturday, Tennessee athletes will take part in 11 events, beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 6 p.m. The list includes the pole vault, shot put, triple jump and high jump as well as the 200, 400, 500, 800 and 3000 meters, the mile and the 4x400m relay.
Clark is looking for a strong showing from his troops against a field that includes such schools as host Penn State, Connecticut, Georgetown, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
"It's going to be a good quality meet, and we have to perform better and get some good marks on the board," Clark said. "Our first meet was just a mediocre performance, so we have to step up and get people qualified.
"We only have a couple of kids with qualifying marks. We're looking to move forward in that area and compete with a little more intensity and focus. I believe we will get that done."
| FRIDAY, JAN. 27 |
| EVENT (NCAA DIV. I QUALIFYING MARKS) |
| Pentathlon (Auto: 4,050, Prov: 3,700) Noon |
| Caitlin Ward |
| Wt. Throw (Auto: 21.00, Prov: 19.00) 4:30 p.m. |
| Ariel Brooks |
| Shanna Dickenson |
| April Thomas |
| Long Jump (Auto: 6.40, Prov: 6.10) 5:30 p.m. |
| Caitlin Ward |
| 5000m (Auto: 16:10, Prov: 16:45) 5:30 or 7:20 p.m |
| Felicia Guliford |
| Katie Flaute |
| Carly Matthews |
| Leah Soro |
| 60mH Prelims (Auto: 8.15, Prov. 8.43) 6:20 p.m. |
| Celriece Law |
| 60m Prelims (Auto: 7.27; Prov: 7.44) 6:50 p.m. |
| Cleo Tyson |
| Courtney Champion |
| LaTonya Loche |
| DMR (Auto: 11:09.00; Prov: 11:28.00) 8:05 p.m. |
| TBA |
| 60mH Final (Auto: 8.15, Prov. 8.43) 8:55 p.m. |
| TBA |
| 60m Final (Auto: 7.27; Prov: 7.44) 9:05 p.m. |
| TBA |
| SATURDAY, JAN. 28 |
| EVENT (NCAA DIV. I QUALIFYING MARKS) |
| Pole Vault (Auto: 4.20, Prov: 3.95) 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. |
| Jessica Reust |
| Shot Put (Auto: 16.90, Prov: 15.40) 10 a.m. |
| April Thomas |
| Ariel Brooks |
| Shanna Dickenson |
| 400m (Auto: 52.40, Prov: 54.40)b 10:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. |
| Patricia Hall |
| LaTonya Loche |
| 500m (Not An NCAA Event) 11 a.m. or 3:20 p.m. |
| Leslie Treherne |
| 800m (Auto: 2:05.70, Prov: 2:09.00)b 11:50 a.m. or 3:50 p.m. |
| Mindy Sullivan |
| Kimarra McDonald |
| Brooke Novak |
| Robin Mortel |
| Rolanda Bell |
| Mile (Auto: 4:38.50; Prov: 4:47.00)b 12:40 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. |
| Brooke Novak |
| Mindy Sullivan |
| Carly Matthews |
| 200m (Auto: 23.30; Prov: 23.90)b 1:10 p.m. or 4:40 p.m. |
| Cleo Tyson |
| Courtney Champion |
| LaTonya Loche |
| Patricia Hall |
| 3000m (Auto: 9:16.00; Prov: 9:35.00)b 1:40 p.m. or 5 p.m. |
| Katie Flaute |
| Felicia Guliford |
| Leah Soro |
| Katie Van Horn |
| Triple Jump (Auto: 13.30, Prov: 12.65) 2 p.m. |
| Celriece Law |
| High Jump (Auto: 1.84, Prov: 1.78) 2 p.m. |
| Caitlin Ward |
| Celriece Law |
| 4x400mR (Auto: 3:33.50; Prov: 3:40.00)b 5:30 p.m. |
| TBA |
| KEY |
| b - Banked Track Qualifying Standard, dnf - Did Not Finish, dnr - Did Not Run, f - Facility Record, m - Meters, mr - Meet Record, nm - No Mark Recorded, p - Prelims, s - School Record (Indoors), u - Undersized Track Qualifying Standard, * - NCAA Automatic Qualifier, + - NCAA Provisional Qualifier, ! - Personal Record (Indoors), ^ - Oversized Track Qualifying Standard |
