Wake Forest University
Sam Howell Invitational
Track and Field Claims Four Individual Titles At Sam Howell
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
April 9, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC - The Wake Forest men's and women's track teams wrapped up competition today at the Sam Howell finishing with four individual titles and a new school pole vault record. The Deacons set several personal and season bests at the Princeton-hosted meet during the second to last weekend before the ACC Championship.
"We felt like the team stepped up and competed well," said director of track and field Annie Bennett. "That was the purpose of the trip, to get some good competitive opportunities."
Michelle Sikes posted her second regional qualifying time in the 3,000m steeple chase. Her 10:35.73 was just a second shy of the school record, but marked the best time by anyone in the ACC this season. Cassy Richards' 19-08.75 won the long jump. She finished second in the 100m.
Lindsay Neuberger won the shot put, throwing a 47-02.50 and the discus with a 140-07.00. Catherine Muehleib had two personal bests, including a 42-00.75 in the shot put and a 130-10 in the discus.
Jill Ahrens' 11-05.75 earned her a third place finish in that event and broke a Deacon school record. It also moved her into the top-ten conference performances this season. Kerri Norton vaulted a personal best 10-00.00.
Melissa Council's 15.21 in the 100m hurdles was the best by a Deacon this season. Her 400m hurdles time of 1:05.49 was also a personal best.
Annie Bersagel finished second in the 1,500 meter race with a time of 4:28.01. The time broke the meet record by nearly seven seconds and stands as the second best time in the conference this season. Caitlin Chrisman and Liz Hankinson ran personal bests in that event as well, with times of 4:36.47 and 4:48.49, respectively.
Both of the 4x400 meter relay teams ran their best performances of the season. The women shaved nine seconds off their previous best and finished third with a 3:52.16. "This was the improvement that we'd been looking for in the girls this season," said Bennett. The men finished the event in 3:20.30.
Brad Wharton won the 1,500m race with his 3:53.10. Chris Catton finished third with a 3:56.86, a personal best in that event. Joel Conn's 14:53.70 was a personal best in the 5,000m and the second best mark by a Deacon this season.
Michael Bingham finished fourth overall in the 100m race with a 10.84. He vaulted a personal best in the pole vault with his 13-05.25.
Ben Renner ran a personal best 58.07 in the 400m hurdles. Oderah Nwaeze placed fifth in the long jump. His 22-08.50 was the best by a Deacon this season and puts him among the ten best conference marks this season. Josh Carter's 43-03.00 in the shot put was the best this season by any of his teammates.
"Several Deacons will compete next weekend as a last minute tune-up before the conference championship," said Bennett. Those traveling to the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., will have one more opportunity for competition before the ACC Championship takes place in Tallahassee, Fla., April 21-23. Results for both meets can be found at WakeForestSports.com.
Players Mentioned
