April 29, 2012
The Notre Dame track and field squad split up this past weekend as half of the team went to the famous Drake Relays, while the rest went to the Hillsdale College Gina Relays. The Irish won three events on the weekend and turned in 17 top-three finishes.
Earning wins for the Irish were the 4x800m relay team at the Drake Relays and Patrick Lesiewicz (5,000m) and Andrew Hills (Hammer Throw) at the Gina Relays.
Notre Dame next heads to the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships next weekend in Tampa, Fla. The men’s team finished second last season, while the women’s team placed 10th. At the BIG EAST Indoor Championships in February the men’s team won the team title, while the women finished fourth.
DRAKE RELAYS
DES MOINES, Iowa – Competing against some of the best competition in the country, the Notre Dame track and field squad earned three top-three finishes, including a win in the 4x800m relay at the famous Drake Relays this weekend.
The women’s 4x800m relay team composed of Kelly Curran, Alexa Aragon, Allison Schroeder and Rebecca Tracy crossed the line first in a time of 8:35.89.
The 4x400m relay team of Jade Barber, Michelle Brown, Natalie Geiger and Kaila Barber finished fourth in the prelims (3:38.42) before coming back and claiming sixth in the finals (3:40.76). The prelims time put the team in 17th place in the East.
The reigning two-time BIG EAST Men’s Field Athlete of the Week Kevin Schipper took second in the pole vault with a vault of 5.30m (17-04.50 ft).
The men’s 4x800m relay team of Randall Babb, Johnathan Shawel, Mitch Lorenz and Jeremy Rae finished third in a time of 7:25.88.
Megan Yanik took seventh in the 400m hurdles in 59.15, which places her 18th in the East and 38th in the country in the event.
GINA RELAYS
HILLSDALE, Mich. – Making the quick trip to Michigan for the Hillsdale College Gina Relays, the Notre Dame track and field team won two events and earned 14 top-three finishes this weekend.
Patrick Lesiewicz won the 5,000m run in 14:41.65.
Four Irish hurlers finished in the top seven in the hammer throw. Andrew Hills (54.36m) and Mitchell Gormley (53.10m) took the top two spots, while Jordan Stumph (49.72m) and Mike Smigelski (49.24m) finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Andrew Brock finished second in the shot put with a toss of 16.66m, while Hills finished third with a throw of 16.32m.
Emily Morris took second in the shot put with a toss of 13.78m. Teammate Emily Kujawski (12.77m) finished seventh.
In the women’s hammer throw three throwers finished in the top six. Madeline Casanova (53.42m) and Vivien Devaney claimed second and third, respectively. Kujawski finished sixth with a toss of 48.06m.
Kendra Jennings finished fourth in the high jump with a toss of 1.65m. Teammate Fiona Paladino tied for eighth with a leap of 1.60m.
Meg Ryan crossed the line seventh in the 1,500m run with a time of 4:32.73.
Susanna Sullivan finished eighth in the 5,000m run, finishing in a time of 16:57.98.
In the men’s 5,000m, Jeff MacMillan took fifth in 14:16.13.
Jaclyn Winkel took second in the 400m dash (57.77) and then finished eighth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.98.
Amber Lalla came in sixth in the 400m dash (58.43).
Sasha Blanchard placed sixth in the 100m hurdles (15.41).
Bryce Wood finished third in the 110m hurdles (15.25).
Kayla Polcari (3.60m) placed fourth in the pole vault, while Kathryn Barousse tied for fifth (3.60m).
Jessie Christian (11.23m) and Lauren Leniart (10.98m) took second and third, respectively, in the triple jump.
In the women’s javelin, Amanda Chamblee finished fourth with a toss of 31.32m.
On the men’s side, Peter Kristiansen claimed third with a throw of 48.94m.
Anthony Davis finished third in discus with a toss of 45.64m, with teammate Dominick Padovano right behind in fourth with a throw of 45.20m.
–ND–