May 18, 2002
MADISON, Wis. - With one day of action remaining, both the men's and women's track and field teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Wisconsin. The women lead the field of action with 57.5 points, while the men are in third with 44.5 points behind the Badgers (63 points and Minnesota (53 points). The women have completed 7 of 22 events, while the men are 7 of 27.
Senior All-American Serene Ross proved she was a force to reckon with in the javelin throw. Ross shattered her own school record, Big Ten meet record and the Big Ten record en route to becoming the top collegiate javelin thrower in the nation with an NCAA automatic mark of 57.30m/188-0.00. Ross is 11 centimeters off of becoming the overall best thrower, but is so competitive that her thoughts would not allow her to celebrate. Instead she was still concerned with her third-place finish in yesterday's hammer throw, and thoughts of the Old Gold and Black's chances for a title.
"I came into the event really mad about yesterday's hammer," Ross said. "I was even more angry as the day went on because I lost my wallet and missed the team bus. I got here really ready to go and just focused on the event. I broke the record on my first go, and it only got better from there.
"While the hammer is still on my mind, I realize the javelin is a great accomplishment," Ross said. "This is the first year I won and I know those 10 points are going to help my team. We've got a great chance and I think we can do it."
Head coach Lissa Olson agreed with Ross.
"We are on the eve of something unbelievable," Olson said. "Winning away from home would be a huge honor, and I know we can do it. We've got one more day and both these teams are in this."
Ryan Fitzpatric and Joe Thomas earned major points for the Boilermaker men in the high jump. Fitzpatric was the runner-up with a mark of 2.13m/6-11.75. Thomas earned a season-best with a fourth-place mark of 2.09m/6-10.25.
Barb Wenger was runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase with an NCAA provisional time of 10:27.83
Rookie Desiree Jones completed the heptathlon with a career-best 5,149 points. She earned personal records in all of the events in the hept.
"I was determined to earn a spot on that podium," Jones said. "It feels good, but I wish I could have done more. It was a good feeling to help my team, and tomorrow I hope to earn more points in the high jump."
Fellow freshman Nedzad Mulabegovic earned third place in the discus with a season-best mark of 51.58m/169-3.00. Keith McBride placed sixth in the event with a mark of 4958m/162-8.00.
Geoff Fleming finished fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 9:00.44.
Sunday looks bright for both teams following numerous qualifiers in Saturday's preliminaries. Jacques Reeves leads the field with qualifications in the 100m and 200m dash, as well as the anchor of the men's 4x100m relay team. Reeves ran a career-best 10.40 in the 100. In the second heat of the 200m dash, he ran a 20.74 with no aid from wind. (Penn State's Ryan Olkowski earned the best time of 20.74 with a wind reading of 3.00.)
Prentice Stovall and Kern Woods will compete in the 110m hurdles, while Kyle Orender will represent the Boilermakers in the 1,500m run.
The women's 4x100m relay team qualified for the finals as well. Kelly VanAbeele ran a personal record time of 2:09.83 to join Kim Jordan in the 800m relay.
Action will continue with the triple jump, men's pole vault, women's discus, 5,000m runs and finals in all events.