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Weekly Outdoor Track and Field Notes (Apr. 22)

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    WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
    Rices Ryan Harlan and Boise States Miruna Mataoanu have been named the Western Athletic Conference mens and womens Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively.

    Harlan, a senior from Hewitt, Texas, competed in his first decathlon in almost two years. Harlan scored the top mark in the world for 2004 thus far with 8,054 points during Friday and Saturday's competition at the LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge, La. With the score, Harlan, who redshirted the 2003 outdoor season with an elbow injury, not only automatically qualifies for the NCAA outdoor championships in June, but also automatically qualifies for the USA Olympic Trials in July. The mark also stands as a Rice record, topping Harlan's previous best by 106 points. Through the two-day competition, he notched personal best decathlon marks in the 400 and 1500 meters as well as the pole vault and the shot put.

    Mataoanu, a freshman from Bucharest, Romania, won the high jump and triple jump at the State Challenge Cup in Pullman, Wash., with NCAA Regional qualifying marks in both events. Her winning high jump mark was 5-10.75 (1.80 m) and the triple jump mark of 41-11.25 (12.78 m). Her triple jump was the second longest in Boise State history. She also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.80.

    OTHERS NOMINATED
  • MEN - Forest Braden, Boise State; and Ben Orozco, Tulsa.

  • WOMEN - Kara June, Fresno State; Tasha Moore, Hawaii; Doria Appleberry, Louisiana Tech; Allison Beckford, Rice and Ashley Ast, Tulsa.

    SMU, RICE RANKED AMONG NATIONS TOP 25 - The SMU mens team is ranked eighth 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 fourth and 12th, respectivley. Led by Ryan Harlan, Rice moved into the top 25 this week for the first time this year at No. 24. Harlan posted the worlds top decathlon mark at 8, 045.

    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.