NCAA Champs

[Nevada Hoya]

Georgetown has four runners entered in the NCAA championships for this coming week down in Texas (Austin). Two men, two women. Jesse O'Connell will run the 800m and Chris Lukezic will contest the 1500m. On the women's side Treniere Clement will run the 1500m, while Nicole Lee will participate in the 10,000m.

[Nevada Hoya]

Starting lineups for the men's events:

Event 4 Men 800 Meter Run
===============================================================================
3 Heats. Advance top 3 plus next 9 best times to semi-finals.
Advance top 3 plus next 3 fastest times to final.
Name Year School Seed
===============================================================================
Heat 1 Prelims
1 773 Lars Kjerengtroen JR BYU 1:49.52
2 849 Moise Joseph SR Florida 1:46.76
3 882 Jesse O'Connell SR Georgetown 1:47.39
4 971 Andrew Ellerton SO Michigan 1:46.56
5 1272 Dan Murray JR Wisconsin 1:48.04
6 1087 Daniel Pessing SR Rice 1:48.26
7 1092 Ben Armel JR Santa Barbara 1:48.00
8 994 Trent Riter SO Minnesota 1:48.37
9 935 Mike Inge SO Kent State 1:47.82
Heat 2 Prelims
1 1113 Anthony Heckman JR USC 1:49.13
2 1054 Prince Mumba FR Oral Roberts 1:48.17
3 1196 Jonathan Johnson JR Texas Tech 1:46.32
4 1074 Courtney Jaworski SO Pennsylvania 1:47.91
5 1020 Dmitrijs Milkevics FR Nebraska 1:47.95
6 1164 Marc Sylvester JR Tennessee 1:47.01
7 829 Joel Legare JR Connecticut 1:48.05
8 705 Peter Etoot SO Alabama 1:46.83
9 934 Erik Sproll JR Kansas St. 1:49.33
Heat 3 Prelims
1 1158 Paul Cross FR Tennessee 1:46.60
2 937 Jean Balan SR Kentucky 1:48.28
3 1281 Lukas Musil SR SMU 1:48.31
4 860 Kevin Hicks FR Florida A&M 1:48.02
5 1093 Tetlo Emmen SO Santa Barbara 1:49.72
6 747 Sherridan Kirk JR Auburn 1:46.67
7 1227 Nick Thornton SR UCLA 1:48.01
8 731 James Hatch JR Arkansas 1:47.52
9 921 Jason Briggs SR Indiana St. 1:47.73

Event 5 Men 1500 Meter Run
===============================================================================
2 Heats. Advance top 4 from each heat plus next 4 best times.
Name Year School Seed
===============================================================================
Heat 1 Prelims
1 871 Tom Lancashire FR Florida St. 3:43.31
2 1043 Kurt Benninger FR Notre Dame 3:41.95
3 916 Sean Jefferson SO Indiana 3:40.90
4 1014 Scott McGowan SR Montana 3:41.87
5 899 Brendon Mahoney SR Georgia Tech 3:41.43
6 995 Martin Robeck SR Minnesota 3:43.25
7 774 Bryan Lindsay JR BYU 3:43.96
8 1085 Adam Davis SR Rice 3:42.38
9 1142 Grant Robison SR Stanford 3:41.43
10 738 Sam Vazquez FR Arkansas 3:42.40
11 1083 Goran Nava SR Radford 3:44.07
12 1144 Donald Sage JR Stanford 3:40.31
13 1048 Rob Myers SR Ohio State 3:41.13
14
Heat 2 Prelims
1 707 Sean Duffy JR American 3:46.84
2 1276 Josh Spiker JR Wisconsin 3:40.36
3 1174 Jonas Hamm SR Texas 3:42.33
4 1232 Tom Parlapiano SR Villanova 3:41.59
5 733 Chris Mulvaney SR Arkansas 3:41.25
6 1224 Jon Rankin JR UCLA 3:43.10
7 941 Hunter Spencer SR Kentucky 3:41.36
8 780 Nathan Robison JR BYU 3:40.89
9 1214 Ben Aragon JR UCLA 3:43.45
10 1283 Chris Lukezic SO Georgetown 3:41.59
11 933 Christian Smith SO Kansas St. 3:44.59
12 1045 Kevin Somok SR Notre Dame 3:42.26
13 894 Simon Ngata JR Georgia 3:42.82
14 724 Said Ahmed JR Arkansas 3:43.40


Both Jesse and Chris have a good chance of moving on to the next round. I believe the 800m has the heats, semifinals, and finals, while the 1500m has heats and finals.

[Nevada Hoya]

Speaking about Chris and Jesse, Alan Webb, after being beaten by both of them a few weeks ago, has set four personal records in four races. Tonight he won the 1500m in Europe beating the Olympic champ in the 1500m, Noah Ngeny, plus the runner with the 2nd fastest 1500m time, Bernard Lagat (who used to train in the Palouse at WSU).

[Nevada Hoya]

They just cancelled the first day of the NCAA track and field meet in Austin, TX, because of a severe storm - rain and lightning. So Jesse will have to wait tomorrow for run the first heat. I wonder how they will reschedule, because with multiple rounds, you have to let them have some rest between races. The only events completed today were the women's 4x100m relay and the Hepthalon 100m hurdles.

[Nevada Hoya]

Since it was not available yesterday, here are the start lists for the two women Hoyas:

Event 25 Women 1500 Meter Run
===============================================================================
2 Heats. Advance top 4 from each heat plus next 4 best times.
Name Year School Seed
===============================================================================
Heat 1 Prelims
1 370 Tiffany McWilliams JR Mississippi St. 4:09.19
2 400 Erin Donohue JR North Carolina 4:16.78
3 369 Jennifer McPherson SO Mississippi St. 4:20.80
4 668 Hilary Edmondson SR Wisconsin 4:16.36
5 226 Shannon Rowbury SO Duke 4:17.41
6 622 Alejandra Barrientos SO UCLA 4:17.60
7 437 Valentina Medina JR Oklahoma St. 4:24.87
8 632 Melissa McBain SR UCLA 4:18.08
9 434 Jessica Eldridge FR Oklahoma 4:18.30
10 302 Laura Lavoie SR Kansas 4:19.09
11 648 Marlies Overbeeke SR VA Tech 4:19.04
12 571 Lindsay Hyatt SR Tennessee 4:19.74
13 428 Kerry Meagher JR Notre Dame 4:16.88
14 554 Arianna Lambie FR Stanford 4:13.14
Heat 2 Prelims
1 140 Shannon Spaulding SR Arkansas 4:21.90
2 276 Mary Kamau SO Idaho 4:17.19
3 292 Jessica Huff SR Iowa St. 4:22.16
4 173 Julie Cameron FR BYU 4:19.16
5 653 Anna Sherman SR Wake Forest 4:17.80
6 573 Brooke Novak SO Tennessee 4:19.61
7 645 Marina Muncan SO Villanova 4:17.27
8 357 Lindsey Gallo JR Michigan 4:11.27
9 615 Corine VanBeek SR Texas-El Paso 4:18.50
10 129 Londa Bevins SR Arkansas 4:16.56
11 147 Spring Dawson SR Auburn 4:18.43
12 254 Treniere Clement SR Georgetown 4:17.64
13 529 Iryna Vashchuk JR USC 4:12.79
14 245 Natalie Hughes JR Florida St. 4:16.68

Event 28 Women 10000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Final Only. Two waterfall, one turn, start (19 - 9)
Name Year School Seed
===============================================================================
Section 1 Timed Finals
1 211 Kalin Toedebusch SO Colorado 34:22.84
2 528 Beth VanAlstine SR USC 34:29.62
3 143 Alison Zeinner JR Arkansas 34:56.63
4 223 Heidi Hullinger SR Duke 34:29.88
5 132 Laura Jakosky JR Arkansas 34:35.95
6 534 Karin VanRooyen SO SMU 33:54.82
7 208 Christine Bolf SO Colorado 34:13.72
8 650 Annie Bersagel JR Wake Forest 33:59.14
9 227 Laura Stanley SO Duke 34:40.60
10 243 Vicky Gill SR Florida St. 32:41.17
11 297 Shannon Saunders SO JMU 34:28.01
12 547 Alicia Craig SO Stanford 32:19.97
13 261 Jill Steffens SO Georgia 34:28.11
14 225 Natasha Roetter FR Duke 34:43.15
15 361 Jamie Krzyminski JR Michigan St. 32:52.81
16 465 Meredith Lambert SO Princeton 34:24.90
17 662 Tara Struyk JR West Virginia 34:14.93
18 540 Casey Owens JR SW Missouri St. 34:53.88
19 374 Serena Ramsey JR Missouri 34:44.63
20 614 Adriana Pirtea SR Texas-El Paso 34:02.79
21 414 Kristin Price SR NC State 34:07.88
22 594 Melissa Gulli SR Texas A&M 33:03.29
23 255 Nicole Lee SO Georgetown 34:04.58
24 221 Erin Moffett SR DePaul 34:49.25
25 406 Jessica Perry SO North Carolina 34:46.43
26 150 Angela Homan SO Auburn 33:53.89
27 180 Laura Turner JR BYU 33:43.27
28 464 Emily Kroshus SR Princeton 33:32.45

[Nevada Hoya]

They had to do a reshuffling of some of the events at the NCAA due to the weather. The only event that will affect Georgetown is the 800m. This was supposed to be run as a heat, semi-finals, and finals. Now it is just a heat and finals. They were going to take the first three from each heat plus the nine next fastest times for the semi-finals. Now they are taking still the first three, but only the next three fastest times and have a (crowded) final of 12 runners. I think Jesse would have favored the three race strategy. GU runners seem to thrive on the multiple race format. But it is steamy Texas, so the less you have to run the better. I feel sorry for the 10,000m runners.

[nychoya3]

Are the championships televised live, or are am I going to see them on foxsports a couple weeks from now at 2 AM? I wish they showed more T&F - I find it very fun to watch.

[Nevada Hoya]

I think you have to stay up late. I haven't seen them listed. I'm sure they will have some coverage, but not live.

Some good and bad news today in the 1500m qualifying. Chris Lukezic finished 8th in his heat and missed qualifying on time by 0.52 s. His time was 3:47.91. I thought for sure that he would move on. I think the crazy weather down in Texas has been an influence on this meet. There were guys ahead of him, who he should have beaten. Of course, he has run through six straight seasons in two years without redshirting (2XC, 2 indoor, 2 outdoor), plus running in the juniors meet after the school year.

The good news was that Treniere Clement finished 2nd in her heat with a 4:15.78. She was third overall. Marina Muncan of Villanova, whom she beat in the regionals, won her heat. Tiffany McWilliams, defending champion, won her heat.

[reformation]

Looks like Jesse O,connell had a breakthrough 800m, winning his heat in 1:46.78, glad to see him go sub 1:47.

I believe that he is qualified for the final with the second best time, behind last yr's winner.

[Nevada Hoya]

Reformation, you beat me. My regular sources failed me and I had to wait until this morning's paper. Indeed, Jesse made a breakthrough, only 0.02 s behind Jonathan Johnson of Texas Tech. JJ almost won last year, but finished 0.01 s behind Burley of Penn. It should be a good final. Johnson should be the favorite, but I wouldn't count Jesse out.

More good news in the women's 10,000m. Although she didn't score (first 8), Nicole Lee came in 10th to claim All-American status with a time of 35:00.85, quite good for the conditions down in Texas.

Jesse and Treniere will run in the finals on Saturday.

[Nevada Hoya]

Recap of the 800m:

In the mens 800 prelims, Mike Inge of Kent State led big in the first heat, followed by Daniel Pessing of Rice then Jesse O'Connell of Georgetown, then Andrew Ellerton of Michigan. Inge hit the 400 in the lead at 51 seconds. O'Connell and Ellerton made their move to pass Pessingand then slowly reeled Inge in. After O'Connell passed Inge on the backstretch, he faded far back. Ellerton moved into 2nd, followed by Pessing, then Moise Joseph (Florida). Joseph passed Pessing for 3rd, as did Minnesota's Trent Riter for 4th.

Plus the picture:

www.trackshark.com/photos/2004/images/ncaa_outdoor/photo104.jpg

[Nevada Hoya]

More photos.

Here is one of Treniere in her heat:

www.trackshark.com/photos/2004/images/ncaa_outdoor/photo118.jpg

And one of Chris:

www.trackshark.com/photos/2004/images/ncaa_outdoor/photo123.jpg

[Nevada Hoya]

Here's how Treniere's heat went:

Heat 2 of the womens 1500 prelims featured surprise Mideast Region winner Lindsey Gallo of Michigan. Shannon Spaulding of Arkansas took the lead shortly after the start, in front of Brooke Novak of Tennessee and Corine VanBeek of UTEP. At the 400 it was still Spaulding in the lead, followed by her teammate Londa Bevins, then VanBeek and Gallo. At the 700 mark, with two laps to go, Gallo took over the race, and Bevins, VanBeek, and Marina Muncan of Villanova responded, with Spaulding fading back. At 1200, Muncan made her move, passing Bevins first, then Gallo, and took it all the way home. Treniere Clement of Georgetown was able to move up strongly for 2nd place, just ahead of Gallo, and Iryna Vashcuk of USC held off Bevins over the final stretch for the 4th qualifying spot. Bevins did hold on long enough to claim the final time qualifier for the finals.

[Nevada Hoya]

First piece of good news today. Treniere Clement finished 2nd in the 1500m with a time of 4:12.21, less than a second behind Tiffany McWilliams, who was unbeatable at the college level last year. Her time was 4:11.59. Georgetown scores big eight points, and they are in 21st place right now. Marina Muncan of Villanova was third. Treniere's time is, I am sure, a personal best.

[Nevada Hoya]

Second piece of good news today was that Jesse finished 2nd, 0.4 s behind Jon Johnson of Texas Tech. Jesse almost duplicated his PR of the other day with a 1:46.79, 0.01 s off. I'm sure both Jesse and Treniere were going for wins, but 2nd places nationally has to be quite an accomplishment. They both end their Georgetown careers on a terrific note.

[DFW HOYA]

Just visited the Trackshark site and the results. One question on the decathlon results--when was Georgetown's last decathlete?

[Nevada Hoya]

Danny Pellegrino was supposed to be a decathlete, in addition to being a pole vaulter, but he has been MIA for a while. One of the posters indicated that GU has lost it vaulting coach (lack of facilities?), so I have not seen results from Danny this year and Andrew Haskell for the spring season. The last before Danny...?

So you didn't go to Austin for the meet, DFW?

[Nevada Hoya]

NOTES: Jonathan Johnson, finalist for the third straight year, and Marc Sylvester were the early leaders with a first 200 of 24.7. Johnson, Prince Mumba and James Hatch completed the first lap in 51.4 with Johnson and Sylvester the leaders at 600 at 1:19.2 when Johnson began to assume control. He covered the last 100 in 13.6 to claim his first title after runner-up honors last year. Jesse O’Connell came from near the back over the last straight to improve on last year’s seventh for the silver medal with Paul Cross passing his teammate, Sylvester, for third.

MORE NOTES: It was a wire to wire win for Jonathan Johnson, although that is not to say he wasn't challenged. Johnson led through the opening lap with splits of 24.7 and 51.4. James Hatch of Arkansas was on his heels and farther back in 4th or 5th was Andrew Ellerton of Michigan and then Tennessee's Marc Sylvester and Paul Cross behind him. Sylvester however made a huge move in the 3rd 200m, moving up to challenge Johnson with 200m to go. Johnson did not panic but stayed in front and made Sylvester try and pass him on the turn. Sylvester had used all his energy and was done and would fade to 4th. As everyone else struggled and fought for the remaining places, Georgetown's Jesse O'Connell came out of nowhere to blow by everyone and finish 2nd. His strong finish and savvy running was reminiscent of another Georgetown 800m runner, world champ bronze medallist Rich Kenah. 24.7, 26.7(51.4), 27.7 (1:19.2),27.2

Georgetown women finished in a tie with 28th place with 8 points. They were the third BE school behind Miami in 10th with 22 points and Providence in 22nd with 10 points.

The Georgetown men finished in a tie for 31st with 8 points. They and Virginia Tech were the highest finishing and only scoring BE schools.

[Nevada Hoya]

Some pictures.

Here is one of Treniere finishing just behind Tiffany:

www.trackshark.com/photos/2004/images/ncaa_outdoor/photo265.jpg

Here is one of Treniere leading Muncan and Gallo:

www.trackshark.com/photos/2004/images/ncaa_outdoor/photo264.jpg

[Nevada Hoya]

Just in. Tiffany McWilliams, who beat Treniere in the 1500m, just turned pro, forsaking her senior year of eligibility. Now why couldn't she have done that last year and Treniere would be national champ?