Matt Schipper finished second in the pole vault and set an NCAA regional qualifying mark Friday.

Irish Track and Field Compete at Drake, Hillsdale

April 24, 2009

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Irish track and field squads opened competition at the Drake Relays and Hillsdale Relays on Friday.

Drake Relays Results

Men’s 4×1600-Meter Relay: The Irish team of Patrick Smyth, Spencer Carter, Jordan Carlson and Daniel Clark finished third with a time of 16:44.95.

Men’s Pole Vault: Matt Schipper won the event with a mark of 5.30m (17-4 1/2.)

Women’s Pole Vault: Mary Saxer finished sixth after clearing 4.00m (13-1 1/2).

Women’s Discus: Jaclyn Espinoza finished third with a toss of 51.10m (167-08), while Anna Weber was 10th at 49.96m (154-01).

Men’s 4×800-Meter Relay: The Irish team of Randall Babb, Kevin Labus, Jack Howard and Blake Choplin finished fourth with a time of 7:23.58.

Hillsdale Relays Results

Men’s 5000 Meters: Mat Abernethy finished 19th with a time of 15:41.87.

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles: Matthew Brown finished 21st in 55.77.

Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Invitational: Kelly Lynch finished eighth in 9:23.43.

Men’s Hammer Throw: Greg Davis finished 10th with a mark of 56.30m, Mitchell Gormley was 13th at 52.03m and Jeff Mensch finished 16th with a toss of 53.10m.

Men’s Shot Put: Andrew Hills won the event with a throw of 16.30m. Denes Veres finished 15th at 16.40m and Greg Davis was 18th at 14.65m.

Men’s Long Jump: Connor Paladino finished 18th with a jump of 6.40m.

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles: Joanna Schultz won the event with a time of 59.70. Sasha Blanchard finished 16th in 1:05.33 and Nicole Yergler was 17th in 1:05.43.

Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase Invitational: Stephanie Socias finished 11th with a time of 11:17.34.

Women’s Shot Put: Rudy Atang finished eighth with a mark of 14.15m.

Women’s Long Jump: Jasmine Williams finished ninth with a jump of 5.57m.

The Irish will continue competition on Saturday.

–ND–