Complete Results
TAMPA - The USF track and field team wrapped up its home schedule at the USF Track & Field Stadium with the USF Quad on Saturday afternoon. The women took second at the first scored meet of the 2009 outdoor season with 173 points, while the men finished third with 174 points.
"This was a great weekend to compete," said head coach Warren Bye. "We had our alumni weekend and I'm glad that those former student-athletes were able to come in and see the new facility. To have a scored meet is really unique. We don't really have scored meets in track too often but when you do it is a special event. Today we wanted to come out and just compete head to head and the kids did that. It was a good meet and a good effort by everyone that participated."
The Bulls surpassed 26 BIG EAST qualifying standards and reached five NCAA qualifying marks in yet another all-around performance. Eight of the BIG EAST qualifying marks were new, giving the “Green & Gold” a total of 28 athletes qualified for conference competition in 21 events while nine athletes have qualified for national competition in 10 events.
Junior Yvana Hepburn continued to dominate the competition in the 100-meter hurdles, taking her third straight event title. The Pomona, N.Y. native currently ranks third on the USF school record list in the event with a 13.72 after turning in her third NCAA qualifying performance in as many meets.
The men's hurdle competition saw senior Glenn Fowler and sophomore Kendale McDaniel qualify for the conference championship for the third time each, posting marks of 14.35 and 14.79, respectively. McDaniel, Fowler and freshman David Aristil also posted BIG EAST qualifying marks in 400m hurdles competition. Aristil took the event crown, crossing the finish line at 53.51, while Fowler and McDaniel finished sixth (54.52) and seventh (55.30), respectively.
The sophomore duo of Stephanie Duffy and Dana Webb rose to the occasion in the pole vault competition, taking first and second in the event, respectively. Duffy chalked up nine points for the Bulls, clearing the bar at 13-0.25, while Webb added seven points with a 12-7.5 mark. Less than a day after winning the decathlon at the FSU Relays, senior Grant Scelzi posted a personal-best 15-9 in the pole vault ? his first BIG EAST qualifying mark of the season.
The USF sprinters bolstered their conference championship lineup, adding five new qualifiers at the USF Quad. Junior D'Andre Ruff surpassed the BIG EAST standard in both the 100m (10.67) and 200m (21.77) events, while classmate Josh Wimbley posted his first outdoor qualifying mark in the 200m with a 21.64. Greg Fontus ? already an NCAA qualifier in the 200m ? posted his second BIG EAST qualifying mark of the season with a first-place finish in the 100m (21.22). Senior Vanetta Randle added to the Bulls list of qualifiers in women's 100m competition, crossing the finish line in 12.08.
The throws crew continued to produce for the Bulls, with senior Jazmine Highsmith and freshman Lauren Noe both setting personal bests to take first and second place, respectively, in the hammer throw. Highsmith took the event title and chalked up nine points for the Bulls with a throw measuring 166-7, while Noe was close behind, surpassing her own freshman record with a 166-6 toss. Freshman Atasha Warren rounded out the USF contenders in the women's hammer throw with a conference qualifying heave of 150-10. Warren also led the Bulls in the shot put competition, finishing second with a thow of 42-4.75.
Rookie Jared Thomas won his second event crown in as many meets in the discus with a BIG EAST qualifying toss of 164-9, while veteran Tyler Perkins captured the silver with a 162-4.
The javelin competition saw freshman Casey Wagner and senior Jara Cornett maintain their edge over the competition, finishing first and second, respectively. Wagner ? the school record holder in the javelin ? captured the event title with an NCAA qualifying 150-7, while Cornett took second with a 133-5.
The Bulls are back in action April 3-4, heading north to Gainesville to take part in the Florida Relays.
