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Final 2005 Indoor Track and Field Notes

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Final Indoor Notes.pdf
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    2005 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
    The WAC sent eight track and field athletes to the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Idaho, UTEP and SMU women all tied for 27th with eight points. For the men, UTEP, the lone team in competition from the WAC, scored four points for 40th.

    Both WAC Athletes of the Year earned All-American honors as UTEPs Mickael Hanany and Adriana Pirtea finished in the top eight. Hanany placed fifth in the high jump with a mark of 2.20m. Pirtea grabbed silver wtih a 3,000m time of 9:23.58.

    Idaho posted two more All-Americans when Manuela Kurrat finished third in the pentathlon with a total of 4,410 points. In the mile, Mary Kamau placed seven with a time of 4:43.76.

    Gaelle Niare of SMU finishing second in high jump, clearing 1.92m. Niare batted with Chaunte Howard at the 1.95m (64-3/4) height, which is the qualifying standard for the World Outdoor Championships. However, because both jumpers cleared the previous height of 1.92m (63-1/2), Niare became the NCAA Indoor runner-up only because of misses made earlier in the competition.

    MEN
    WAC Finish at NCAA Championship
    Team, Pts
    40. UTEP, 4

    Individual
    Event
    Name, School, Place, Time
    200m
    Daniel Ward, Boise State, Prelims, 21.91

    High Jump
    Mickael Hanany, UTEP, 5th, 2.20m

    NCAA - Top Five
    Team, Pts
    1. Arkansas, 56
    2. Florida, 46
    3. Wisconsin, 43
    4. Auburn, 37
    5. Indiana, 30

    WOMEN
    WAC Finish at NCAA Championship
    Team, Pts.
    27. Idaho, 8
    SMU, 8
    UTEP, 8

    Individual
    Event
    Name, School, Place, Time
    400m
    Nina Gilbert, Louisiana Tech, Prelims, 54.74

    800m
    Melanie Hardy, Tulsa, Prelims, 2:08.01

    Mile
    Mary Kamau, Idaho, 7th, 4:43.76

    3,000m
    Adriana Pirtea, UTEP, 2nd, 9:23.58

    Long Jump
    Bejide Williams, Louisiana Tech, 11th, 6.09m

    High Jump
    Gaelle Niare, SMU, 2nd, 1.92m

    Pentathlon
    Manuela Kurrat, Idaho, 3rd, 4,140

    NCAA Top Five
    Team, Pts.
    1. Tennessee, 46
    2. Florida, 36
    3. Miami, 32
    4. Nebraska, 29
    5. South Carolina, 28

    2005 WAC CHAMPIONSHIP
    The 2005 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship concluded with the UTEP men and the Louisiana Tech women taking home titles. The win for UTEP was its 16th WAC Indoor title, while Louisiana Tech's track program became the third sport to win the WAC title.

    Outstanding Performer
    Men - Mickael Hanany, So., UTEP
    Women - Adriana Pirtea, Sr., UTEP

    Coach of the Year
    Men - Bob Kitchens, UTEP
    Women - Gary Stanley, Louisiana Tech

    High Point Award
    Men - Mickael Hanany, So., UTEP, 30 pts.
    Women - Donesha Spivey, Jr., Louisiana Tech, 22 pts.

    Freshman of the Year
    Men - Elias Koech, UTEP
    Women - Donesha Nina Schvedoff, UTEP

    Following UTEPs 184 points on the mens side was affiliate member Utah State with 138 for second and Boise State with 133. In fourth was Louisiana Tech with 69 points, while Rice grabbed fifth with 58. Rounding out mens field was affiliate member Idaho (43) and Tulsa (32).

    Louisiana Tech registered 157 points for its first WAC Indoor crown, clearing the field. Taking second was Rice with 84, while Fresno State tallied 76 points for third. In fourth was UTEP at 63, with fifth going to Nevada (60) and sixth going to SMU which earned 58. Utah State (49), Idaho (43), Hawaii (34), Tulsa (20) and Boise State (17) rounded out the womens field.

    UTEPs Mickael Hanany was the clear star of the meet, winning all three events he competed in. Hanany won the high jump with a height of 2.17 meters, the long jump with a distance of 7.68m and the triple jump with a distance of 15.77m. His 30 points, though not the difference in the meet, gave the Miners a clear advantage and run away win.

    WAC TO ADD NEW MEMBERS IN 2005
    New Mexico State, Utah State and Idaho will join the Western Athletic Conference fully, beginning July 1, 2005. Utah State and Idaho each school will sponsor a mens and womens teams, while New Mexico State will bring only a womens program. New Mexico State was unable to join the WAC in track and field for the 2005 season, as the Sun Belt needs the program to continue to hold a conference championship.