WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
UTEPs Daniel Ward and Rices Allison Beckford have been named the Western Athletic Conference mens and womens Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively.
Ward, a freshman from Hulst, The Netherlands, was the top collegiate finisher in the 200-meter dash at the Spira Invitational on the campus of UTEP. Ward posted a time of 20.76 to regionally qualify. He is also the first WAC 200m runner to break 21 seconds this year.
Beckford, a senior from Sawanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica, won the 400 meters at the Texas A&M Invitational posting a time of 53.40. Her time is the best in the WAC this year and qualifies her for the regional championship, also in College Station.
OTHERS NOMINATED
MEN - Kenny Johnson, Boise State; Ben Wiggins, Rice; Hannes Hopley, SMU and Cory Ray, Tulsa.
WOMEN - Eva Charfreitagova, SMU and Shana Robinson, Tulsa.
SMU RANKED 10TH IN THE NATION - The SMU mens team is ranked 10th in the nation according to Trackwire. The Mustangs are led by a quadrant of throwers all ranking in the top seven in the nation. In the discus, Michael Robertson and Hannes Hopley are rated first and second, respectivley, according to Trackwires Dandy Dozen. In the hammer throw, Jerome Bortoluzzi and Sasha Lutsenko are fifth and seventh, respectivley. The 2003 Indoor Freshman of the Year, Mickael Hanany is 11th in the high jump.
UTEPS ERENG JOINS DRAKE RELAYS ATHLETES HALL OF FAME - UTEP head cross country coach and Olympic gold medallist Paul Ereng will be inducted into the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame during an April 22 reception in DesMoines, Iowa. Ereng's induction will increase membership in to the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame to 195. The Athletes Hall of Fame was established in 1959 during the Golden Anniversary of the Drake Relays with 72 charter members, including Jesse Owens who was named the outstanding performer during the first half century of the Drake Relays. Ereng was a three-time NCAA champion, a four-time NCAA All-American, the 1988 Olympic gold medallist in Seoul, South Korea; a two-time World Indoor champion and a former world record holder.
2004 WAC CHAMPIONSHIP TO HELD IN HOUSTON - The 2004 edition of the WAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship will be held, May 12-15 at the Rice Track Stadium on the campus of Rice in Houston. The multi events are scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 13 with the preliminaries and finals scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Rice last hosted the outdoor championship in 2002. The UTEP men and Rice women look to defend their 2003 outdoor titles.
DANDY DOZEN
2004 Trackwire
(Apr. 13)
MEN
Steeplechase
3. Mircea Bogdan, UTEP
400m-Hurdles
5. Ben Wiggins, Rice
4x100 Relay
10. UTEP
High Jump
7. Henderson Dottin, UTEP
11. Mickael Hanany, SMU
Triple Jump
10. Kendrick Johnson, Boise State
Discus
1. Michael Robertson, SMU
2. Hannes Hopley, SMU
Hammer
5. Jerome Bortoluzzi, SMU
8. Sasha Lutsenko, SMU
Javelin
6. Gabriel Wallin, Boise State
7. Keron Francis, Boise State
Decathlon
6. Ryan Harlan, Rice
WOMEN
400 Meters
9. Allison Beckford, Rice
10,000 Meters
9. Karin van Rooyen, SMU
400m-Hurdles
4. Allison Beckford, Rice
4x100 Relay
6. Louisiana Tech
10. Rice
High Jump
6. Nvenna Lendel, SMU
8. Desiree Crichlow, UTEP
Pole Vault
11. Beth Hinshaw, Rice
Triple Jump
10. Ayanna Alexander, Louisiana Tech
11. LaVada Hill, SMU
Javelin
5. Lindsey Johnson, Boise State
6. Andrea Kvetova, SMU