Feb. 22, 1998

SYRACUSE, N.Y. --- Both the Villanova men's and women's track and field squads placed fourth at the Big East Conference Indoor Championships held at the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University from Feb. 21-22, 1998.

There were many highlights for John Marshall's squad throughout the two-day competition, with the pinnacle being Jermaine Deans (Jr., Kingston, Jamaica) selection as the meet's Most Outstanding Field Performer. After battling the chicken pox all week, and actually quarantined in the University's infirmary, Deans was released on Friday by the doctor and rushed to Syracuse for the league meet. He responded in fine fashion, winning the triple jump in a personal-best leap of 51-6.5, and placing second overall in the long jump. His jump of 24-3.5 is also a career-best. He is the first jumper in Villanova history to win the prestigious award.

The Wildcat men totalled 69 points, finishing behind champion Georgetown (145), Notre Dame (127) and Connecticut (90.5). The women, meanwhile, placed in the fourth spot behind Georgetown (119), Miami (103) and Seton Hall (78).

Kareem Archer (Sr., Plainfield, N.J.) continued to make his mark on the Villanova track and field annals, winning the 200m in an NCAA-provisional time of 21.18. Archer, an All-American in the 400m hurdles last season, placed second overall in the 55m hurdles in 7.28. Archer has now captured three Big East individual championships throughout his fine Wildcat career.

Another exceptional effort came in the 3000m, when Scott Tantino (So., North Wales, Pa.) captured third place in 8:24.70, qualifying for the IC4A Championships. Coulby Dunn (Jr., Greentown, Pa.) also ran well, finishing sixth in the 3000m in 8:26.67, and Dean Smith (So., Phoenix, Md.) scored in the mile with a sixth-place performance in 4:14.18.

On the women's side, two underclassmen captured individual championships. Carmen Douma (So., Cambridge, Ontario) continued what has been an exceptional indoor season, winning the 1000m in 2:48.22 and qualifying for the ECAC Championships. Douma also ran an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:47.98 in a third-place run in the mile.

Charmaine Walker (Fr., Plainfield, N.J.) came away with the title of the 55m hurdles in her first-ever Big East Conference competition. The phenom posted a time of 7.66, a personal-best mark that surpassed her schoolgirl best time of 7.71, the fourth-fastest of all time among high school girls.

Another rookie, Marlena Robinson (Fr., Rochester, N.Y.) pulled double duty in the long and triple jumps. Robinson placed second overall in the long jump with a leap of 19-5.25, and finished fourth in the triple in 39-7.25. Robinson set a new school record in the triple jump earlier this season, posting a mark of 40-6.

The Villanova freshman class was certainly in the forefront of this meet, as Ann McGranahan (Fr., Pensacola, Fla.) scored in both the 5000m and 3000m. McGranahan placed third in the 5000m in a time of 16:37.17, an NCAA provisional qualifier. McGranahan finished only behind Providence College All-Americans Marie McMahon and Sarah Dupre in the event.

Kristen Nicolini (Jr., Annapolis, Md.), a transfer from Auburn University, placed fifth in the mile in a time of 2:54.17, making her presence felt in the Big East Conference. Nicolini also ran on two first-place Wildcat relay teams, the distance medley relay and 4x800m relay. Nicolini teamed up with Leashia Rahr (So., Syracuse, N.Y.), Tamieka Grizzle (So., Bronx, N.Y.) and Douma to run away with the Wildcats' second-straight Big East Indoor DMR title. The quartet posted a time of 11:26.67 to earn an NCAA provisional qualifying time.

The Wildcats will continue indoor competition on Saturday, Feb. 28, 1998, at the prestigious USA Track & Field Championships held in Atlanta, Ga.

BIG EAST INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Feb. 21-22, 1998 ~ Syracuse University

men's ResultsFINAL TEAM STANDINGS:  1.  Georgetown 145; 2.  Notre Dame 127; 3.  Connecticut 90.5; 4 .  Villanova 69; 5.  Miami 60; 6.  Seton Hall 59; 7.  Rutgers 47.5; T8.  West Virginia, St. John's 45; 10. Pittsburgh 21; 11. Boston College 30; 12. Syracuse 19; 13. Providence 10.Coaching Staff of the Year:  GeorgetownOutstanding Field Performer:  Jermaine Deans, VUOutstanding Track Performer:  Jason Rexing, ND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Villanova only)55m Hurdles2.  Kareem Archer   7.28*$ (7.38, 7.37  trials)200m1.  Kareem Archer   21.18*$ (21.44 trials)24. Gary Thau   23.79 (trials)400m11. Maulan Byron    50.07 (trials)20. Mark Kruszewski 52.68 (trials)500m5.  Greg Young  1:03.65 (trials)    DNF - Finals20. Shaun Stanton   1:14.03 (trials)1000m11. Richard Morris  2:31.15 (trials)18. Ryan Payne  2:46.11 (trials)3000m3.  Scott Tantino   8:24.70*6.  Coulby Dun  8:26.67*5000m9.  Coulby Dunn 14:49.39Mile6.  Dean Smith  4:14.18* (4:16.10 trials)12. Brock Butler    4:22.14 (trials)Triple Jump1.  Jermaine Deans  51-6.5*$ (15.71)Long Jump2.  Jermaine Deans  24-3.50*4x400m Relay3.  Villanova   3:14.14*Distance Medley Relay2.  Villanova   10:01.29*IC4A Qualifying mark; $NCAA Provisional Qualifier.rd