Tracksters compete in Florida State Relays; Olson takes top honors in the high jump

March 22, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, FL- Coming off its fifth consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship last weekend, the Wheaton College women's track and field team traveled with the men to Tallahassee, Florida to compete in the Florida State Relays. The women posted two NCAA Division III national meet automatic qualifying marks as well as one provisional mark over the weekend, while the men added one automatic qualifying mark. No team scores were kept in the meet.

The lone victory came on the men's side, as sophomore Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY/Albany Academy) followed up last weekend's national championship performance in the high jump with an automatic qualifying leap of 6' 10 3/4". Outdistancing himself from the Division I dominated field, Olson has now been the top collegiate competitor in 12 of 13 meets he has entered this year.

Also posting an impressive mark for the men was junior Erik Benson (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), who came in second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.83. Freshman Justin Jin (Seoul, South Korea/Newton South [MA]) came in 13th in the long jump with a leap of 19' 8 3/4". The men's 4x100-meter relay team just missed a provisional standard, as Benson was joined by juniors Tyrone McClain (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) and Lance Wagner (Beverly, MA/Beverly) and freshman Ajay Sisodia (Andover, MA/Andover). The foursome placed sixth overall with a time of 42.39.

For the women, junior Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) posted two NCAA Division III national meet automatic qualifying marks in the 200 and 400-meter dashes. James finished second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.56, and fifth in the 200M event with a time of 24.51. Registering a sixth place finish in the 800-meter run was junior Kim Spence (Barrington, NH/Dover), who finished the race in 2:18.97.

Setting a provisional qualifying mark in the 4x100-meter relay was the quartet of James, junior Vernick Smith (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson), sophomore Jessica Allegra (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) and freshman Aspen James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury). Completing the relay in 48.08, the Wheaton squad finished in seventh place overall.

Both the men and women return to action on Friday, April 4, as they travel to Storrs, Conn. to compete in the Husky Invitational. Meet time is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Last updated on 3/24/03.
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