April 9, 2002
Sea Ray Invitational
April 12 and 13, 2002
Tom Black Track
Knoxville, Tenn.
Good Ole' Rocky Top
* After fighting through the blistering cold and winds last weekend at the Maryland Invitational, the Terps track and field teams will take a trip down south to compete at the 36th annual Sea Ray Invitational this Friday and Saturday at the Tom Black Track on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
* This will be the Terps second trip to the south, and first time in many years at Sea Ray Invitational, after competing at the Alabama Relays in the season's first meet March 21 to 24.
* The meet's host, the University of Tennessee, is the defending NCAA Men's Outdoor Champion and is currently ranked number one in the country in TrackWire Top 25 poll.
One Week Left
* This weekend will be the final tune-up before the ACC Championships April 19 and 20 in Charlottesville, Va.
* At the time of release, the ACC standings for the week of April 8 were unavailable, but two Terps sat atop their respective events in the conference. Sophomore Toni Jefferson (Baltimore, Md.) has a clasp on the top spot in the 200 meters (23.85), while school record holder Thema Napier grabs the other top spot in the 400-meter hurdles, blowing away the competition thus far by over 2 full seconds (58.73).
Women Dominate The Field (And Track) At The Maryland Invitational
* Three Terp women claimed two events a piece at this weekend's meet. Jefferson continued her solid string of performances by taking both the 100 meters (11.70) and 200 meters (24.55), and did her part to help the Terp women outdistance their closest competitor Navy 183.50 to 142. Her performance comes off the heels of establishing a new school record in the 200 (23.85) at the Alabama Relays on her way to a second place finish.
* Not to be outdone, Napier upheld her claim as the school's most decorated hurdler by sweeping the 100-meter hurdles (13.83) and the 400 intermediate hurdles (1:01.59). She is currently one of 21 ACC women, as of April 1, to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships. It would be her third time qualifying to compete at the national championships.
* Senior Ruth Kura (Potomac, Md.) claimed her first two victories of the outdoor season. The indoor All-American took the discus (134-11) and the hammer (167-3) by comfortable margins. Kura is a on quest to gain her first outdoor All-Conference honor, after earning three indoor honors (1999, 2001, 2002).
Men Set The Tone For The Season With A Win
* Sophomore Harold Manning (Glen Burnie, Md.) pulled double duty at the Maryland Invitational taking first-place in both the 100 meters (10.88) and 200 meters (22.36) to lead the men to a 159-125.5 victory over Delaware. He currently has the team's best times in both the 100 and 200.
* Freshman Rob Frelow (White Plains, N.Y.) had a strong day as well, taking two second place finishes in the 200 (22.49) and 400 (48.56). He also placed well at the Alabama Relays, coming in fourth in the 400 (47.77). As of April 1, he is fifth in the conference in the 400 meters.
* The senior hurdle duo of Phillip Barrett (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Dontae Bugg (Newport News, Va.) claimed second (14.36) and (14.77) in the 110-meter hurdles respectively this past weekend. Barrett also established a new career best time in the event, beating his previous best at last year's Maryland Invitational (14.54).
Track Contact: Chris Stuchko
Phone: 301-314-1483
Fax: 301-314-9094
E-Mail: lilpenny4@aol.com
