April 24, 2016
By Lizzie Mikes
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Josephine “Indi” Jackson, who has emerged as one of the top field athletes for the University of Notre Dame, earned another outdoor victory Saturday evening at the Virginia Challenge. She won the women’s shot put competition with her 15.02m mark.
Indi Jackson won the women’s shot put Saturday at the Virginia Challenge.
“We had mostly positive results this weekend,” Irish head coach Alan Turner said. “Jessica Harris, Margaret Bamgbose and Indi Jackson all had very good performances with their victories. Jessica and Indi had personal bests in the 800m and the shot put respectively. We also had personal bests from Jordan Harris and Drake Stimson in the 400m hurdles, Rachel DaDamio in the 1500m, Brent Swanberg in the 100m hurdles and Kelly Hart in the 800m.”
Additionally, the Irish cheered on six other top-10 finishers throughout the day, including the women’s 4x400m relay team that crossed the finish line second (3:34.71). In the women’s 400m hurdles, graduate student Kaila Barber placed seventh (59.19) and Jordan Shead finished ninth (59.78). On the men’s team, Matt Birzer (sixth) and Hunter Holton (tied for seventh) both broke two meters. Holton’s highest mark was 2.06m, while Birzer finished with a 2.11m mark. In the men’s 10,000m race, distance specialist Timothy Ball finished in 29:51.89, good for ninth place.
The women’s team also cheered on Carly Loeffel (heptathlon), Jessica Harris and Rachel DaDamio (1500m), Parker English, Kyla Lewis, Allison Bartoszewicsz and Payton Miller (200m), and Taylor Craft (100m Hurdles). Craft clocked in at 14.52 in the 100m hurdles, followed by Loeffel at 14.75. English (24.67), Lewis (24.87), Bartoszewicz (25.28) and Miller (25.60) all ran in the 200m. Harris, who broke the school record Friday in the 800m, ran the 1500m in 4:23.05, and was joined by DaDamio who crossed in 4:23.84. Loeffel finished 12th in both the long jump (5.53m) and the shot put (12.58m).
On the men’s side, Chris Marco (3:49.47) and Billy Dolan (3:56.78) both ran in the 1500m, while Drake Stimson (53.52) and Aaron Dunn (55.17) raced in the 400m hurdles. Alex Groesch sprinted across the finished line in 22.11 in the 200m, whereas Kevin Pulliam ran the 10,000m in 31:10.53. Brent Swanberg, competing in the decathlon, finished 11th in the high jump (1.96m) and raced the 100m hurdles in 15.14.
“We are in a good position as the postseason gets closer,” Turner said, “especially the women’s team. With the victories this week, and the number of personal bests we saw, we are progressing towards peak performances at the ACC Championships and NCAA East Regional meet.”
The Irish are next in action when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa April 28-30 to compete in the Drake Relays. For up-to-the-minute action, follow the team’s social media accounts on twitter (@NDXCTF) and Facebook (Notre Dame Cross Country/Track & Field).
Saturday Results
M 1500m
- Christopher Marco 3:49.47
71. Billy Dolan 3:56.78
M 110m Hurdles
T-25. Brent Swanberg 15.14
W 100m Hurdles
T-23. Taylor Craft 14.52
- Carly Loeffel 14.75
W 200m
- Parker English 24.67
18. Kyla Lewis 24.87
31. Allison Bartoszewicz 25.28
36. Payton Miller 25.60
M 200m
- Alex Groesch 22.11
W 400m Hurdles
- Kaila Barber 59.19
9. Jordan Shead 59.78
M 400m Hurdles
- Drake Stimson 53.52
21. Aaron Dunn 55.17
W 1500m
- Jessica Harris 4:23.05
19. Rachel DaDamio 4:23.84
W 4x400m Relay
- Notre Dame 3:34.71
M 10,000m
- Tim Ball 29:51.89
23. Kevin Pulliam 31:10.53
W Long Jump
- Carly Loeffel 5.53m
M High Jump
- Matt Birzer 2.11m
T-7. Hunter Holton 2.06m
- Brent Swanberg 1.96m
W Shot Put
- Indi Jackson 15.02m
12. Carly Loeffel 12.58m
— ND —
Lizzie Mikes serves as Media Services Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. A 2013 graduate of Johnson & Wales University, she oversees credential management and is the athletic communications director for Fighting Irish men’s and women’s swimming and diving and track and field. She has assisted with numerous NCAA postseason events hosted by Notre Dame, and is heavily involved in the day-to-day tasks of the athletic communications office.