Rice University Athletics
Track and Field: Rice Finishes Day 2 at Texas Relays
4/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The men's long jump duo of Tommy Oleksy, a sophomore from Nederland, and Vaughn Walwyn, a sophomore from Houston, had an outstanding day on the runway. Oleksy posted an NCAA provisional qualifying, and career best, long jump mark of 25-09 1/2 in a fourth-place finish for the Owls. Walwyn leapt a personal best, also NCAA provisional qualifying, 25-02, for a third place finish in the long jump section B. Mississippi's Savante Stringfellow jumped a distance of 27-06 3/4, the best in the world in any conditions this year, and an NCAA automatic qualifying mark, but cannot be considered for records purposes due to the 3.9 meters-per-second aiding wind.
Senior Rashad Stafford, competing in his last outdoor season for Rice, qualified for Saturday's 110 meter hurdle finals with a mark of 14.06, the second best mark in the league. The men's distance medley crew of freshmen Adam Davis and Daniel Pessing, sophomore Erik Mazza and junior Keith Pierce crossed the finish line in a time of 10:30.53. Senior John Jura, a solid distance runner for the Owls this season, finished the 5,000 meters in the fourth best time in the WAC, 15:12.76.
On the women's side, the Owls loaded up in the relay events. The sprint medley relay squad of senior LaKeisha Robertson, juniors Keitha Moseley and Aimee Teteris and sophomore Allison Beckford finished second in a time of 3:47.17. The Owls were edged by WAC rival UTEP, who took the title in a time of 3:46.95. The 4x400 squad of senior Kelechi Anderson, Robertson, Teteris and Beckford qualified for tomorrow's finals with a time of 3:43.16. The distance medley relay of freshmen Shannon Murto and Keia Watkins, and juniors Tanya Wright and Erin Brand, crossed the line fifth with a time of 11:53.88, the third best time in the WAC this season. In the evening's women's distance events, junior Katie Waite ran the 5,000 meters in a 12th place finishing time of 18:08.40.
In the women's field events, Alice Falaiye posted a league-leading long jump of 21-00 3/4 in an NCAA provisional qualifying effort. Her leap was also a personal best for the sophomore from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Freshman Beth Hinshaw set a new personal record in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 11-11 3/4 in a third-place finish in flight B. Senior Jessica Sommerfeld threw 141-05 in the discus for one of the top five marks in the league.
In preliminary action, Moseley finished the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 14.11, the second best time in the conference this season. Perdita Felicien of Illinois ran the fastest time in the world this year, posting a time of 12.95.
The Texas Relays conclude tomorrow, with finals in the women's shot put, men's high jump, 100- and 400 meter hurdles, Jerry Thompson Mile and the 4x400 and 4x100 meter relays.
