April 29, 1998
VILLANOVA, Pa. - On May 1-3, 1998, for the 18th-consecutive year, the Jumbo Elliott Track on the campus of Villanova University will be the site of the Big East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Last season, the Wildcat women won their seventh team title, while the Hoya men won their eighth team title in 10 years.
The Villanova women outscored second-placed Miami with 135 points to the Hurricanes 117 points, while the Georgetown men tallied 166 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Notre Dame.
On the womens side, Villanova looks to defend its title with sophomore Carmen Douma, the 1998 NCAA indoor national champion in the mile, leading the charge. The native of Cambridge, Ontario, ranks near the top of the league in the 3000m as well, and should get help in the distance events from junior Kristen Nicolini and freshman Ann McGranahan. Freshman Marlena Robinson, the school record holder in the triple jump, is the Big East leader in both that event and the long jump as well. Sophomore Tamieka Grizzle, an All-American and former indoor Big East Champion in the 800m, will also be a strong competitor for the Wildcats, as will freshman Charmaine Walker. Walker set a school record in the 100m hurdles at the Penn Relays, and won the 55m hurdles at the Big East indoor meet.
In order for Miami to win its first Big East Conference outdoor track & field title, senior Patrina Allen will have to step up. The 1997 Big East 400m hurdles champion, she has run a provisional qualifying time in that event. The Hurricanes also look to junior Karen Waite, 100m runner-up last year, and Wylleshia Myrick, who currently ranks second in the 100m and 200m.
St. Johns sophomore Gina LoMonaco leads the conference in the shot put and hammer throw, and has qualified for the NCAAs in the discus. Senior Stacy-Ann Williams and sophomore Nicola Coffey also look to contribute in the 200m and hammer, respectively. Pittsburgh returns 1997 Big East and NCAA long jump champion Trecia Smith. She is the league leader and has qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championship in the long jump. Smith is an automatic qualifier in the pentathlon, while Panther sophomore Chantee Earl is the Big East leader in the 800m
Georgetown is led by freshman Kristen Gordon, ranked first in the Big East in the 3000m and 5000m. She has run NCAA provisional qualifiers for both events. The Hoyas also look to sophomore Autmn Fogg and freshman Denise Warner in the 1500m and pole vault, respectively. Notre Dames Alison Klemmer leads the Big East and has qualified for provisionally for the NCAA Championship in the 10,000m.
Seton Hall is led by 1997 Big East 400m runner-up Beverly Pierre, a senior who currently leads the league. Senior Althea Tyndall and sophomoreLankya Brown also look to contribute for the Pirates in the 400m and 100m hurdles. West Virginia features three Big East leaders and provisional NCAA qualifiers: senior Maxing Dawkins in the 100m and 200m, Charity Wachera in the 5000m and 10,000m, and Kristen Quackenbush in the pole vault.
Connecticut freshman Tamika Toppin tops the high jump list. The Huskies will also look to sprinters Joanne Durant and Talisha Graves in the 100m and 200m. Both rank near the top of the league in both events. Syracuses Deniece Bell has run the fastest time in the league for the 400m hurdles this season, while senior Maureen Wickerham also looks to contribute in the discus.
Providence is strong in the distance events. Senior Marie McMahon and junior Gladys Ganiel have run NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 5000m and 10,000m, while Sarah Dupre and Stephanie OReilly also rank among the league leaders in the 3000m. Rutgers is strong in the field events, led by senior Brooke Speers, who has qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championship and leads the Big East in the javelin. Celeste Battle and Tamara Pellein rank second in the league in the hammer and discus. Boston Colleges Angie Graham leads the conference with an automatic qualifying time in the 1500m, while sophomore Shanon Smith will look to contribute in the 3000m.
On the mens side, Georgetown has its usual strong corps of distance runners. The Hoyas are led by senior Sam Gabremariam, who is currently ranked first in the league in the 1500m. Senior Steve Baldi, the 1997 Big East runner up in the triple jump, and sophomore Sean Flynn, who leads the conference in the hammer, also look to lead the Hoyas to their fourth-straight title. Looking to dethrone the Hoyas, Notre Dame returns two 1997 champions: senior Jason Rexing in the 10,000m and senior Mike Brown in the pole vault. The Irish will also look to senior Errol Williams, an NCAA automatic qualifier in the 110m hurdles, and freshman Travis Davey in the sprints.
The Villanova Wildcats are led by senior All-American Kareem Archer, who is the two-time defending champion in the 400m hurdles, and will anchor the Wildcats 1600-meter relay squad which won the IC4A division of the Penn Relays. Jermaine Deans returns to defend his 1997 Big East triple jump title, and the sophomore duo of Scott Tantino and Dean Smith are both ranked near the top of the league in the 1500m. Freshman Michael Brown has improved as the season has progressed, and will look to contribute in the 400m.
Connecticut sophomore Ray Wilks leads the Big East in the shot put and discus. Junior distance ace Travis Landreth and sophomore sprinter Haven Barnes also look to contribute for the Huskies. Miami is strong in the sprints, led by the defending Big East 400m champion Davian Clarke. The senior has qualified provisionally for the NCAA championship in the 400m, and leads the conference in both the 200m and 400m. Junior Caldrequis Lesley ranks among the league leaders in the 110m hurdles. Boston College sophomore Marshal Armitage and freshman Justin Burdon are among the top 1,500m runners in the league, while junior Brian Shafer looks to lead the Eagles in the 5000m.
Junior Ned Brooks of Seton Hall leads the league in the 800m and has qualified provisionally for the NCAA championships. Senior Marcus Green, junior Derwin Jones, and freshman Steve Osaduik are ranked second in the league for the long jump, 400m, and 3,000m steeplechase, respectively. West Virgina Features the 1997 Outstanding Track Performer, senior Robert Dennis. A 1996 Olympian and 1997 Big East champion in the 100m and 200m, he currently leads the conference in the 100m.
Rutgers junior Victor Mallory is the conference co-leader in the high jump. The Scarlet Knights will also look to junior Art Dreher in the shot put and freshman Steve Siara in the javelin. Syracuse senior Cory Ward is the other co-leader in the high jump. He also ranks third in the 100m. The Orange will also look to freshman Alex Brown in the shot put.
Pittsburghs Ron Losiewicz ranks second in the discus throw. The Panthers are also strong in the 400m and 1,600m relays. St. Johns led by a trio of senior distance runners, with Chris Fogarazzo leading the Big East in the 5,000m. Chris Graff ranks second in the 5,000m and 10,000m and John Honerkamp is third in the 800m. Providence features junior Rick Bush, who leads the conference in the 3,000m steeplechase. The Friars will also look to Keith Kelly and Ben Noad to contribute in the 3000m.
