Lyons mark best finish ever at NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championship

May 25, 2002

SAINT PAUL, MN- The Wheaton College women's outdoor track & field team boasted yet another national crown Saturday afternoon at Macalester College, as the Lyons captured their second consecutive NCAA Division III Championship. Coupled with an astounding four straight indoor titles, the Wheaton women have discovered the nation's top spot to be almost commonplace. The men also turned in outstanding performances, as they posted their highest finish ever at fifth place overall.

Etching their championship name in the record books for the fourth consecutive occasion including both indoor and outdoor national meets and for the sixth time covering a four-year span, the Lyon women became the first program to sweep the indoor and outdoor national prizes in back-to-back seasons since the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh did so in 1995 and 1996.

Despite a challenging first day of competition, Wheaton still managed to amass an impressive 67 points. Unlike last year where the Lyons won by an aggregate 34.5 points, Wheaton did not clinch the victory until the second to last event of the meet. Following the Lyons was McMurry with 49 points, Williams with 44 points, Wisconsin-La Crosse with 38 points and Christopher Newport with 34 points. On the men's side, Wisconsin-La Crosse earned the team title with 64 points.

"Today's championship was the most satisfying of all, as our athletes took it upon themselves to overcome early adversity," says head coach Paul Souza. "After a tough first day, the team responded and showed why they're champions. Across the board, everyone came back with an answer and everyone contributed equally. Right down the line over the course of the last two days, we had athletes stepping up left and right; from our underclassmen to our gutsy performances, this was a phenomenal victory."

It was no surprise that Minnesota native Amber James (Woodbury, MN) played an integral role in the victory, as she put together a trio of incredible performances to lead Wheaton. James was simply amazing, as she partook in an unprecedented day highlighted by three National Championships in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay events. Over her brief two-year career, James has been a part of an astounding four team national championships and nine event national titles. James not only set a school record in defending her 400M title but also a Macalester Stadium mark with a blistering finish of 53.81 seconds.

Even more impressive was the fact that she then went onto capture her first outdoor 200-meter dash championship with a time of 23.73, which was a mere hundredth of a second off the Division III all-time meet record. Putting on a show for the hometown crowd, James finished her monumental afternoon by anchoring the 4x400M event to a first-place triumph with a time of 3:44.48, which was just short of the Macalester Stadium record. Joining James was senior Niara Woods (Philadelphia, PA), junior Noreen Kordzeil (Chittenango, NY) and first-year Tessa Donoghue (Springfield, MA).

"Amber has always been a clutch performer for us as she is one of the most consistent athletes we have ever had here," comments Souza. "Certainly the huge constituent of family and friends here made an impact, as she wanted to impress the home crowd. Amber had a tremendous year in training and this weekend she put it all together from start to finish. She absolutely lit it up!"

James was backed by an unbelievable supporting cast, which was triggered by freshman Kirsten Larsen (Hampden, MA) in the javelin. Entering the competition as the seventh seed, Larsen made the most of her collegiate national championship debut with a fourth-place heave of 133' 2", a mark good enough for an All-American tag. Other All-American performances came from senior Shimera Daniels (Brentwood, NY) and Donoghue in the triple jump and juniors Kordzeil and Kristen Cullen (Stoneham, MA) in the 100-meter hurdles.

Hampered by a hamstring injury that occurred Thursday during the 4x100-meter relay event, Daniels responded with an impressive third-place mark of 40' 5 1/2" in the triple jump. Donoghue, who was victorious in the long jump yesterday, finished fourth with a distance of 39' 10 3/4". Kordzeil and Cullen placed fifth and eighth, respectively in the 100-meter hurdles, with Kordzeil leading the way in a time of 14.58 and Cullen at 14.81. Other strong outings came from Woods in the 800-meter run and junior Jana Bromell (Spencer, MA) in the shot put. Woods posted a ninth-place mark in the finals with a time of 2:17.26, while Bromell finished with a toss of 42' 10 1/4".

Freshman Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY) added to Wheaton's national championship total with the top finish in the high jump. Earning his first crown at the national event, Olson cleared an impressive 7' 1". Senior Rahiem Greenridge (Wyandanch, NY), who was in search of an eighth event national title over his four-year career, settled for a third place mark at 6' 11". Entering the meet, Greenridge and Olson were the only two athletes in the competition to have cleared 7' 1" on the season. Sophomore Erik Benson (Southbury, CT) capped the men's success with a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter dash, earning All-American status with a time of 48.10.

"Coaches go through their entire lives hoping to get the opportunity to win a national championship," as Souza reflects on the success of Wheaton's track and field programs. "People at times don't understand how difficult it is to get to this point, but once you get here anything can happen. Our athletes don't believe they can lose when they reach the national meet. The feeling is contagious."

MEET HIGHLIGHTS:

* Wheaton women captured its second consecutive NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship

* Wheaton women earned its sixth national championship (indoor and outdoor) in a four-year span

* Wheaton women have swept the indoor and outdoor titles the last two years, putting the Lyons in
elite company with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1995-96) and Christopher Newport University (1988-89)

* Wheaton men placed fifth overall, which marked their highest finish ever at an outdoor meet

* Women posted four event National Champions and 13 All-Americans, Men had two event National Champions and four All-Americans

* Amber James Named National Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, defending her title in the 400-meter dash while capturing the crown in the 200-meter dash and anchoring the winning 4x400-meter relay team

* Amber James shattered the Macalester Stadium record in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay. She was a mere hundredth of a second shy of the Division III all-time meet record in the 200-meter dash

* Tessa Donoghue captured the national championship in the long jump

* Rahiem Greenridge defended his national title and tied the Macalester Stadium mark in the triple

* Dan Olson captured the national championship in the high jump

Following is a list of individual and relay events (top eight placements earn All-American status):

WOMEN
Name Event Result Finish
Jana Bromell Shot Put 42' 10 1/4" ---
Kristen Cullen 100 Meter Hurdles 14.81 8th
Shimera Daniels Long Jump 15' 9" ---
100 Meter Dash Did Not Compete ---
Triple Jump 40' 5 1/2" 3rd
Tessa Donoghue 200 Meter Dash 25.26 ---
Long Jump 19' 4" 1st
Triple Jump 39' 10 3/4" 4th
Kate Getz High Jump No Height ---
Amber James 200 Meter Dash 23.73 1st
400 Meter Dash 53.81 1st
Noreen Kordzeil 100 Meter Hurdles 14.58 5th
400 Meter Hurdles 63.64 ---
Kirsten Larsen Javelin 133' 2" 4th
Erin O'Brien 1,500 Meter Run 4:51.63 ---
Kim Spence 400 Meter Hurdles 64.56 ---
Kerry Teamey Pole Vault 12' 1/2" 3rd
Niara Woods 800 Meter Run 2:17.26 9th
Jessica Allegra, Daniels,4x100 Meter Relay Did Not Finish ---
Donoghue, James
Donoghue, James, 4x400 Meter Relay 3:44.48 1st
Kordzeil, Woods

MEN
Name Event Result Finish
Erik Benson 400 Meter Dash 48.10 6th
Rahiem Greenridge Triple Jump 50' 1/4" 1st
High Jump 6' 11" 3rd
Dan Olson High Jump 7' 1" 1st
Ray Smith Long Jump 21' 2 1/2" ---

Last updated on 6/17/02.
Send questions about this page to Scott Dietz or contact Wheaton College.

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