United Athletic Conference

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2002-03 Top Performances.pdf NCAA Championship Notes.pdf

2003 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Finals: Hornet Stadium
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, California
June 11-14, 2003
HornetSports.com

The Western Athletic Conference has 43 athletes competing in next weeks NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. The Championship begins with the decathlon and heptathlon on Wednesday, June 11 and continues through June 14. SMU leads the field with 12 qualified athletes, while UTEP is behind them with 11.

The WAC boasts many NCAA Champions, a few of which are back to defend their titles. Nevena Lendel of SMU is heading to Sac State hoping to defend her 2003 NCAA indoor high jump title as she is ranked No. 1by Trackwire. Rices Allison Beckford is making her final appearance on the NCAA platform as she looks for her third-straight outdoor 400m title. Rob Minnitti of Boise State has been among the national leaders in the javelin throw and is on pace to grab the 2003 national championship. SMUs Mindi Pukstas, the WACs indoor and outdoor Athlete of the Year, looks for an NCAA title in the 10,000m. Taiwo Ajibade of UTEP is looking for the fastest collegiate title, making his way to nationals in search of the 100m title.

WAC NCAA Qualifiers
Boise State
Men
Rob Minnitti, Javelin
Russ Milam, Javelin
Kenny Johnson, Triple Jump
Jay Finks, 200m
Women
Trina Rogers, Javelin
Lindsey Dewey, 800m
Robin Wemple, Steeplechase

Fresno State
Women
Kara June, Steeplechase

Louisiana Tech
Women
Tawanna Williams, Shot Put

Nevada
Women
Samantha Young, Javelin

Rice
Men
Tommy Oleksy, Long Jump
Women
Allison Beckford, 400m
Nina Mayes, 100m
Beth Hinshaw, Pole Vault
Alice Falaiye, Long Jump
Owls, 4x400m
(Beckford, Watkins, Teteris, Gairdner)

SMU
Men
Martin Allgeyer, Steeplechase
Jerome Bortoluzzi, Hammer
Hannes Hopley, Discus
Mindi Pukstas, 10,000m
Michael Robertson, Discus
Women
Eva Charfreitagova, Hammer
Rika Feuth, Steeplechase
LaVada Hill, Long Jump
Nevena Lendel, High Jump
*Marie Normann, High Jump
Zivile Pukstiene, Triple Jump
*Karin van Rooyen, 5,000m

UTEP
Men
Taiwo Ajibade, 100m
Jairo Duzant, 200m
Bashar Ibrahim, Steeplechase
Henderson Dottin, High Jump
Janne Vartia, Hammer
Janne Sakko, Javelin
Miners, 4x100m
(Bello, Sears, Ajibade, Duzant)
Women
Jos van der Veen, 800m
Andrea Pirtea, 5,000m
Desiree Crichlow, High Jump

Tulsa
Women
Shana Robinson, 100m, 200m
Monica Joannes, 800m

*Will not attend meet

2003 WAC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
EL PASO, Texas The Rice women and UTEP men returned to their wining ways, taking home the team titles at the 2003 WAC Track and Field Championships in El Paso, Texas. For the third time in four years, Rice brought home the WAC title, scoring 172.83 points to earn the victory at Kidd Field. UTEP claimed its 13th WAC Outdoor Championship and its first outdoor title since 1997.

Rice, who was down over 40 points heading into Saturday, tallied 172.83 total points to knock off Nevada who had 147.33. On the men's side, UTEP's sprinting corps went 1,2,3 in both the 100 and 200 meters to secure the title over SMU, 198-146. UTEP was the runner-up to SMU last year, after winning the indoor title during the 2002 season.

The Miners were carried by their sprinters and hurdlers who scored 91 points on the final day of competition. Taiwo Ajibade, Jario Duzant and Yinka Bello took the top three spot in the 100-meter dash. Ajibade ran 10.35 edging Duzant who crossed in 10.40. Bello posted a time of 10.43. UTEP took the spots one through four in the 200-meter dash. Duzant nipped Bello 20.86 to 20.91. Ajibade was third in 20.97, while Richard Petty finished fourth in 21.19. Bello, Bryan Sears, Ajibade and Duzant made up the 400-meter relay which took its second-consecutive title in the event. The relay ran away with the victory in 39.39.

Led by the high point award winner and the most outstanding performer, Allison Beckford, the Owls posted seven first-place finishes and six second-place finishes to outlast Nevada and UTEP. Beckford won the 400-meters, 400-meter hurdles, and anchored the Owls 4x400-meter relay to the championship. Beckfords mark of 53.03 in the 400-meters was good enough for first place and ten points, as was her 57.75 in the 400 hurdles. When Beckford got the handoff in the 4x400 relay from Ruthann Gairdner, the Owls were in third place. Beckford ran a 50.5 split, to come from behind and beat Tulsa and UTEP. Aimee Teteris and junior Keia Watkins were also members of that WAC champion 4x400-meter relay.

For complete results and more information on WAC Track and Field visit wacsports.com.