May 4, 2003
The University of Notre Dame women’s track and field team came up just short in its push for a BIG EAST team title this season. The Irish finished second to Miami at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship in Connecticut on Sunday, as the Hurricanes compiled 166 points to the Irish’s 126. Pittsburgh (94), Syracuse (70), Villanova (62) and Georgetown (62) rounded out the rest of the top five.
Miami out-distanced the Irish by dominating in the sprint events, enjoying individual victories in the 100, 100-meter hurdles, 200 and 400 meters.
The individual highlight for Notre Dame from Sunday was provided by freshman sensation Molly Huddle. Huddle continued her great outdoor season with a victory in the 5,000 meters, easily taking first in 15:58.51. Her closest competitor, Mary Cullen from Providence, was seven seconds behind. Jennifer Handley finished fourth in the 5,000 meters as well (16:57.71).
Sophomore Emily Loomis continued her outstanding collegiate career on Sunday. The first-team all-BIG EAST volleyball player, who earned the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player Award last season, won the individual high jump title on Sunday. She cleared 1.75m to win her first high jump crown, after finishing in the top three at the last three conference meets.
Tameisha King followed up her long jump individual title from Saturday with all-BIG EAST finish in the 100-meter hurdles on Sunday. King took third place in 13.64.
The 4×100-meter relay team was unable to follow up on its championships from 2000 and 2001. The team of Tanya Cheatham, Kristen Dodd, Ayesha Boyd and Kymia Love did earn all-BIG EAST honors, however, finishing third in 45.80.
The final all-BIG EAST honor of the day for the women’s team was earned by sophomore Lauren King, who was just edged at the finish line of the 1,500 meters by Georgetown’s Treniere Clement. Clement finished in 4:18.57, while King’s time ended up at 4:18.85.
The season is not over yet for the Irish women’s track and field team. A final outdoor tune up, the Georgia Tech Invitational, is scheduled for next weekend in Atlanta. The NCAA Regional in Columbus, Ohio, is set for two weeks later, May 30 and 31, and that meet will feature several Irish qualifiers. The NCAA Championship begins June 11 in Sacramento, Calif.