Blue Demons Prepare for C-USA Championships
5/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | TRACK AND FIELD
CHICAGO - The DePaul track and field teams made their final preparations for the upcoming Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by competing at the Marquette Invitational and Wisconsin Twilight over the weekend. Frank Guzman led the DePaul throwers by winning the shot put at both meets. On the women's side, Montia Gardner claimed the hammer throw championship at the Wisconsin Twilight.
At Friday's Marquette Invitational, Guzman claimed the shot put crown as did Andrae McPherson in the 110-meter hurdles. Guzman won with a school-record distance of 18.95 meters (62'2.25") ahead of UW-Milwaukee's Jon Manke at 16.59 meters (54'5.25"). McPherson posted a time of 15.25 in the 110-meter hurdles while teammate Cornelius Sams was fourth in the event at 16.57.
Other top finishers for the men's team included second-place finishers Dan Sloan, Larry Inanga and Jarrod Jahnke. Sloan was second in the high jump at 1.93 meters (6'4") while Jahnke took second in the hammer throw with a season-best distance of 52.92 meters (173'7"). Inanga was second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.29.
Diana Runnels and Katie Sullivan earned titles in their respective events at the Marquette Invitational on Friday. Runnels took the 200-meter dash in a time team-best time of 25.13 while Sullivan won the high jump with a height of 1.62 meters (5'3.75"). In the 100-meter dash, Kristil Nicholas, Dee Moore and Marissa Peterson placed second, third and fourth, respectively.
Guzman added another first-place finish on Saturday in Madison as he finished with a distance of 18.38 meters (60'3.75") in the shot put. Hammer thrower Carey Ryan tuned up to defend his Conference USA title as he won with a season-best distance of 68.26 meters (223'11").
Gardner won the hammer throw with a toss of 47.14 meters (154'8") while placing fourth in the discus competition at 41.74 meters (136'11").
The 2002 C-USA Championships begin on Thursday, May 9, in Louisville. The three-day meet will finish on Saturday, May 11, and take place at Cardinal Park on the University of Louisville campus.