Results
TUCSON, Ariz. University of Arizona junior Keith Varga set a school
record in the men's 400m intermediate hurdles Friday night at the Day One
of the Arizona Elite Classic at Roy P. Drachman Stadium. Several other
Wildcat athletes had quality performances at the two-day meet.
Varga was the top collegiate finisher, third overall, clocking a time of
50.70 seconds in the race. His time is also a strong NCAA provisional
qualifying performance, and should earn him a trip to the NCAA
Championships, May 31-June 3, in Durham, N.C.
Maurice Mitchell, one of the top 400m hurdlers in the United States,
running for the U.S. West Track Club, won the event in 49.35, good enough
to earn him a spot in the July's U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif.
Tom McGuirick of Accusplit Track Club finished second in 50.21.
The women's 400m low hurdles was equally as good of a race, with Arizona
senior Nicole Thomas finishing as the top collegiate competitor in a
personal-best time of 58.25. Her time is also an NCAA provisional
qualifying time and good for No. 5 in school history.
Former Wildcat Michelle Johnson, who finished sixth in the event at the
1999 World Championships, won the race in 55.71, while Trevia Williams was
second in 56.18. Johnson's Tucson Elite Athletic Club teammate Nikkie
Boyer was third in 56.76, and Nigeria's Lade Akinremi finished fourth in
58.02.
Arizona junior TaKisha Morgan had a career-best triple jump of 41-1w
(12.52m) to win the event. Sophomore Shaya Orendorff won the women's
javelin competition with a toss of 138-1 (42.08m) into a strong headwind.
Senior Mandy Shefman finished second, and was the top collegiate finisher
in two events, the women's shot put and hammer throw. She was just off her
season-best marks in the events, throwing 46-1 (14.06m) and 167-8
(51.12m), respectively. Unattached athlete Jenny Folz won both events,
notching a mark of 51-2 (15.60m) in the shot and 184-1 (56.10m) in the
hammer.
The Elite Classic continues Saturday with field events starting at 10
a.m., and running events getting underway at noon. The men's invitational
1,500m scheduled to take place Friday night was pushed back until Saturday
afternoon in hopes of the wind calming down to run faster times.
