University of Arizona Athletics

More Listings: Arizona athletes have also moved up on the Pacific-10 Conference all-time lists. Tara Chaplin's 10,000m time is No. 4 in conference history, while her 5,000m time ranks No. 7 all-time. Andrea Neary moved to No. 3 all-time with her pole vault clearance of 13-1 1/2 (4.00m). Brianna Glenn moved into a tie for No. 9 all-time with her school record of 11.49 in the 100m. Glenn's 200m time is the No. 5 wind-aided mark in conference history.

Brianna B-Good: Sophomore Brianna Glenn put together one of the most successful indoor seasons in recent years, setting school records in the 60m, 200m and long jump. She provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in all three events, with marks of 7.38caa, 24.25c and 20-7 1/4 (6.28m). She won the MPSF Indoor title in the 55m and was second in the 200m and third in both the long and triple jumps. At the NCAA meet, Glenn finished fifth in the 60m and 10th in the long jump, earning All-America honors in both events. She ran 7.31 in the preliminaries of the 60m, resetting her school indoor record. The sophomore has not slowed a step in the outdoor season, in fact she has been even faster. She won the Texas Relays 100m title in 11.24w, an NCAA automatic qualifying performance. Although her time was wind-aided, it was the fastest run by an American woman in 2000 at the time. The following week, she ran 22.97w at the April 15 UTEP Invitational, another NCAA automatic mark. Glenn opened her outdoor season by setting a school 100m record. She won the event with a time of 11.49 at the Willie Williams Classic in a race Coach Fred Harvey said was not even a good one for her. The sophomore scored 33 points to help the Wildcat women beat Cal, Colorado and Minnesota at the Jim Click Shootout. She won the 100m, 200m and long jump and was third in the triple jump.

Chasing Amy: Sophomore Tara Chaplin has continued her success from last season when she was a two-time All-America. Chaplin has taken the title of distance king at UA from Wildcat great Amy Skieresz, who won seven NCAA titles and was a 10-time All-American. Chaplin finished fifth in the 5,000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Her time of 16:03.21 is a career-best and the best time run by an Arizona athlete, other than Amy Skieresz. Her time is also No. 7 all-time in the Pacific-10 Conference. She ran the No. 4 time in Pac-10 history in the 10,000m at the Mt. SAC Relays. Chaplin was the top collegiate finisher in 33:17.39, an NCAA automatic qualifying time and No. 2 in school history. At the Stanford Invitational, Chaplin ran 33:45.64 in the 10,000m. Last season, she finished 10th in the event (16:25.25), earning All-America honors. She also ran the 3,000m at the meet, finishing 12th (9:37.56). Chaplin continued her strong freshman campaign during the outdoor season, qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor meet in the 5,000m and 10,000m. She placed ninth in the 10,000m (34:52.96), again garnering All-America laurels, and was 15th in the 5,000m (17:01.03). Last season, Chaplin completed a first for a Wildcat freshman, competing in five NCAA Championship events. This year, she also finishing 33rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Sky High: Senior Jeff Dutoit cleared a season-best mark in the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Championships, 18-0 1/2, to finish eighth and earn the third All-America honors of his career. He finished third at last year's indoor meet with a career-best clearance of 18-2 1/2, tying UA's indoor school record. He then finished tied for seventh at the NCAA Outdoor meet at 16-10 3/4 (5.15m), earning the second All-America honors of his career. He competed at the 1998 NCAA Outdoor Championships, but did not clear a height. This season, Dutoit cleared 17-8 1/2 (5.40m) in Flagstaff, Ariz. to provisionally qualify for the meet. Dutoit likely earned a return trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, clearing 17-10 1/2 (5.45m) to win the Arizona Elite Classic. His mark ties his career outdoor best, and is an NCAA provisional qualifying performance. Dutoit continued his quality performances the following week, winning the university/college pole vault competition at the Drake Relays. He cleared 17-9 (5.41m), over four inches higher than any other vaulter in the event.

Action Jackson: Senior Carolyn Jackson has been one of the Wildcats' top performers at the national level the last three years. Last season, she earned 400m All-America recognition at the indoor and outdoor championships, finishing eighth at the indoor games and ninth at the outdoor meet. She also earned All-America honors at the 1998 NCAA Outdoor meet, finishing fifth. This season, she ran 53.76 to win the MPSF Championship and qualify for the indoor meet. Jackson ran a career-best 52.10 last May to earn an automatic qualifying mark for the 99 outdoor meet. The time is also No. 2 in school history. At the Pacific-10 Conference Championships, however, she severely injured her hamstring and did not advance past the prelims. She battled back, and competed at the NCAA meet, although it was thought impossible. She finished second in her heat, the first and slowest of the championships, and did not advance to the final, but still earned All-America recognition for having the ninth-fastest time. She finished 10th in the preliminaries at the NCAA Indoor Championships, but did not advance to the final. However, she did earn All-America honors. Jackson ran a strong outdoor provisional qualifying time, 52.88, to win the Jim Click Shootout April 1. She improved on that time at the April 15 UTEP Invitational, running 52.58 despite strong winds. Jackson then ran 52.60 at the Arizona Elite Classic April 22.

Head of the Class: Junior Andrea Neary is not only the team's top pole vaulter, but she is one of the top students at the UA. She has a 4.0 grade point average in physiology and was named the 2000 Raytheon Woman Athlete of the Year for her dedication to the team and her schoolwork. Neary smashed the school record at the April 1 Jim Click Shootout, clearing 13-1 1/2 (4.00m), No. 2 in Pac-10 history and an NCAA automatic qualifying mark. Neary qualified for the indoor meet in the pole vault for the second straight year. She finished 12th in the pole vault at the meet with a mark of 12-3 (3.75m). This season, she set an indoor school record, clearing 12-9 1/2 (3.90m) in Flagstaff, Ariz. to qualifying for the meet. At last year's competition, Neary finished 14th in the event, clearing 11-7 3/4. This season, she finished fourth at the MPSF Championships with a mark of 12-7 1/2 (3.85m). She provisionally qualified for last year's outdoor meet, but did not advance. She was hurt much of the outdoor season, but finished fourth in the pole vault at the Pac-10 Championships with an outdoor best of 11-11 3/4.

Not Beginners' Luck: At this time last season, Keith Varga was the team's top high jumper, just getting his legs back from a two-year Mormon mission. Now, he is an NCAA qualifier in the 400m hurdles. Varga ran the 400m hurdles for the first time at the Willie Williams Classic in March, clocking a time of 51.76, not bad for a beginner. He then dropped his best time by over a second, running 50.70 to set a school record at the Arizona Elite Classic on April 21. His time is also a strong NCAA provisional qualifying performance. Varga also ran 14.24 in the 110m high hurdles, good for No. 10 on the school's all-time best chart, at the April 1 Jim Click Shootout. He ran his first collegiate 110m hurdle race last year the ASU-NAU-UA triangular meet and later finished 7th in the event at the Pac-10 Championships.

St. Patrick: Junior Patrick Nduwimana was out of action for the indoor season and half of the outdoor season with an Achilies' tendon injury, but he looks to be his old self since his return April 22. Nduwimana finished second at the 1999 NCAA Championships in the 800m and was seventh at the 1998 meet. He also ran at the 1999 World Championships in Spain for his native Burundi and finished fifth in his semifinal heat. He opened competition this year in the 1,500m at the Arizona Elite Classic. He ran 3:45.07, a personal-best in the event and only 0.07 seconds off the NCAA provisional standard. Coaches expect him to make his season debut in the 800m this weekend against Arizona State and Northern Arizona.

Speared: Arizona has the most formidable javelin foursome in the nation with senior Esko MIkkola, junior Ola Larsen, sophomore Christian Banken and freshman Matt Wagner. Mikkola tossed an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 238-2 (72.60m) at the April 15 UTEP Invitational. Larsen threw a solid provisional mark of 235-4 (71.72m), while Wagner and Banken have Pac-10 qualifying mark of 217-0 (66.14m) and 217-1 (66.16m), respectively.

Pac-10 Honors: The Pacific-10 Conference has named athletes of the week for two weeks so far this season, and two Arizona athletes have picked up honors. Brianna Glenn won women's track athlete of the week April 10 after her performance at the Texas Relays. Esko Mikkola won men's field honors after an NCAA automatic qualifying mark at the April 15 UTEP Invitational.

In the Books: Two Arizona athletes have already set school records this season. Brianna Glenn set four indoor records (55m, 60m, 200m and long jump), and opened her outdoor competition with a school record in the 100m, 11.49 at the Willie Williams Classic. Andrea Neary set the school indoor record in the pole vault, 12-9 1/2 (3.90m). She then smashed the outdoor record, which she set at 12-7 1/2 (3.85m) earlier in the season, at the April 1 Jim Click Shootout. She cleared 13-1 1/2 (4.00m), good for No. 2 all-time in the Pac-10. Keith Varga set a new standard in the 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 50.70 at the Arizona Elite Classic. The women's sprint medley team of Nicole Thomas, Alexandra Komnos, Liz Giltner and Rori Kelly set a school record at the Drake Relays, running 56.36 seconds to better the mark of 56.51 set in 1994.

Rewind: The Wildcats completed a successful competition at the Arizona Elite Classic, April 21-22, with several qualifying marks. Jeff Dutoit cleared 17-10 1/2 (5.45m) in the pole vault, and Nicole Thomas ran 58.25 second in the women's 400m hurdles, both NCAA provisional performances. Keith Varga set a school record, clocking a time of 50.70 in the 400m hurdles, another NCAA provisional time. Patrick Nduwimana competed for the first time this season and won the invitational 1,500m in 3:45.07, a personal-best time and 0.07 seconds off the NCAA provisional standard... The Wildcats picked up three NCAA automatic qualifying marks the weekend of April 14-15 at the Mt. SAC Relays and the UTEP Invitational. Tara Chaplin was the top collegiate finisher in the women's 10,000m, running 33:17.39, the No. 2 time in school history. Brianna Glenn ran a wind-aided 22.97 in the 200m at the UTEP meet, the top collegiate time there. Esko Mikkola competed for the first time this season and picked up an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 238-2 to win the UTEP javelin title... Arizona competed at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas April 6-8 with solid results. Sophomore Brianna Glenn continued her superstar year, running a wind-aided 11.24 to take home the 100m title. Her time was an NCAA automatic qualifying performance, as well. Senior Rori Kelly matched her season best in the 100m high hurdles, running 13.84, and freshman Alexandra Komnos ran a season-best of 13.87... The Arizona men and women swept the team titles over Cal, Colorado and Minnesota at the April 1 Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona's men scored 215 points, while the women scored 202. The Wildcats won 20 events at the meet, cruising to easy wins. Junior Andrea Neary set a school record in the pole vault, clearing 13-1 1/2 (4.00m), an NCAA automatic qualifying mark. Senior Carolyn Jackson ran the Wildcats' other NCAA qualifying mark of the day, 52.88, a provisional mark in the 400m. Sophomore Brianna Glenn won the 100m, 200m and long jump and finished third in the triple jump, scoring 33 points for the Wildcats. On the men's side, juniors Keith Varga and Mike Kenyon both won two events at the meet. Varga won the 110m high hurdles in 14.24, the No. 10 time in school history, and the 400m hurdles (52.15). Kenyon won the 200m (21.37) and 400m (46.48). His 400m time is No. 4 in UA history. Sophomore Richard Legarra scored 20 points for the men, winning the discus and finishing second in the shot and sixth in the hammer... Seven Wildcat distance runners competed at the Stanford Invitational, March 25-26, and four finished with NCAA qualifying marks. Tara Chaplin was the second collegiate finisher in the women's 10,000m (33:45.64), earning an NCAA auto mark. Her time is No. 2 in UA history and No. 7 in Pac-10 history. Jeremy Lyon finished third in the 3,000m steeplechase, running a strong NCAA provisional time (8:47.91) in the process. Mike Cramer and Katrin Engelen ran NCAA provisional times in the men's and women's 10,000m, 29:46.16 and 34:37.65, respectively. Three Wildcat throwers competed at the UC-San Diego Open, each coming away with at least one PR. Richard Legarra threw 188-10 (57.56m) in the discus, a personal best, NCAA provisional mark and No. 6 all-time at Arizona. Mandy Shefman threw two outdoor personal bests, 47-5 1/4 (14.46m) in the shot and 159-6 (48.62m) in the discus. Her throws are No. 7 and No. 8 all time at UA, respectively. Jeremy Fulton threw a personal-best in the discus, 169-10 (51.76m), a Pac-10 qualifying mark... Arizona opened its home schedule March 17-18 with a successful effort at the Willie Williams Classic. The team recorded four NCAA provisional qualifying marks, 30 Pacific-10 Conference qualifying marks and set two school records. Brianna Glenn set a school best in the 100m, winning the event in 11.49, and Andrea Neary set a school record in the pole vault with a clearance of 12-7 1/2 (3.85m). Nicole Thomas ran an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 59.00 in the 400m low hurdles. Keith Varga competed in the 400m hurdles for the first time in his career and ran 51.76, the No. 10 time in school history... Some members of the men's and women's teams opened their outdoor seasons March 4 at the Bill Sawyer Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. Junior Ola Larsen had the best performance of the meet, throwing an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 235-5 (71.72m) to win the javelin. His toss is also a career-best and No. 3 in school history. Senior Mandy Shefman won the women's shot put with a toss of 47-5 (14.45m), a career best and No. 7 all-time at UA. Two other Arizona athletes won events at the meet, graduate student Chris Schaefer in the 800m, 1:53.39, and senior Jeremy Lyon in the 1,500m, 3:52.36... Some members of the men's and women's teams opened their outdoor seasons March 4 at the Bill Sawyer Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. Junior Ola Larsen had the best performance of the meet, throwing an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 235-5 (71.72m) to win the javelin. His toss is also a career-best and No. 3 in school history. Senior Mandy Shefman won the women's shot put with a toss of 47-5 (14.45m), a career best and No. 7 all-time at UA. Two other Arizona athletes won events at the meet, graduate student Chris Schaefer in the 800m, 1:53.39, and senior Jeremy Lyon in the 1,500m, 3:52.36.

Under the Roof: Arizona had a very successful trip to the MPSF Championships in Reno, Nev. The men finished second and the women were third at the meet. Three Wildcat individuals won titles, and the men's distance medley relay team picked one up, as well. Tara Chaplin won the 5,000m in 16:51.56, Carolyn Jackson tied for first in the 400m in 53.76 and Brianna Glenn won the 55m in 6.84, a new school indoor record. Glenn also finished second in the 200m and was third in the long and triple jumps. Mike Kenyon and Matt Lea finished 2-3 in the men's 400m, while Keith Varga was second in the men's 55m high hurdles... The men's and women's teams had their first scoring meets of the season with full teams competing and finished with considerable success. The women beat ASU, 80-79, and NAU, 79-69. The men beat NAU, 95-78, but lost to ASU, 79-74. Sophomore Brianna Glenn set three indoor school records -- 60m (7.34), 200m (24.05) and long jump (20-7 1/2) -- and picked up NCAA Indoor provisional qualifying marks in the process. Junior Andrea Neary won the pole vault, breaking her own school indoor record in the process at 12-9 1/2. Senior Carolyn Jackson provisionally qualified in the 400m (53.97), while senior Jeff Dutoit improved his provisionally pole vault mark with a clearance of 17-8 1/2... The Wildcats picked up four NCAA provisional qualifying marks during the competitive weekend of Feb 11-12 at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. and the Cannon IV Classic in Indianapolis. Junior Andrea Neary broke her own indoor school pole vault record, clearing 12-7 1/2 (3.85m) and finished second at the Husker meet. Senior Jeff Dutoit also picked up a qualifying mark in the pole vault, clearing 17-6 1/2 (5.35m). Sophomore Brianna Glenn provisionally qualified in the 60 meters, finishing second at the Husker meet in 7.43. Sophomore Tara Chaplin provisionally qualified in the 5,000 meters at the Cannon IV Classic with a time of 16:35.18. Although she did not qualify for the NCAA meet, senior Nicole Thomas set an indoor school 60m high hurdles record in 8.57... Arizona opened its season at the Silver State Games Jan. 29 in Reno, Nev. Junior Andrea Neary had the lone NCAA qualifying mark, setting an indoor school record in the process, with a clearance of 12-6 (3.81m)... Senior Micheil Jones won the men's 3,000m in 8:33.58 (8:23.57aa).

The Coaches: In his 33rd year as head coach at the University of Arizona, director of track and field and cross country Dave Murray is the dean of Wildcat coaches. Murray, a 1965 graduate of Arizona and former Wildcat athlete, has coached 131 All-Americans in both track and field and cross country throughout his career. He has also coached 21 NCAA Champions, 18 in track and field and three in cross country. Aside from the day-to-day planning and direction of the program, Murray focuses on coaching the Arizona distance runners. Associate head coach Fred Harvey (13th year, Cal Poly-SLO, 82) coaches the Wildcat sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams. Harvey has coached several athletes who accomplished much at the national and world levels, including 1999 World Championship competitors Michelle Johnson (6th - 400m hurdles) and Patrick Nduwimana (semis - 800m). Associate head coach Mike Maynard (13th year, Azusa Pacific, 86) coaches the Wildcat throwers. He has also coached many elite national and world throwers and has coached in international decathlon competitions. Assistant coach Tom Hays (3rd year, Kansas, 89) directs the Arizona pole vaulters and jumpers, and assistant coach Dawn Mortensen (3rd year, Arizona, 96) works with the sprinters and hurdlers.

Murray's Musings: This weekend is always one of our special competitions of the year when we run against Arizona State and Northern Arizona. I think that all three teams really gear up for the meet and get excited about the competition. That really leads to a great competition. I think it is going to be a very close competition again this year. Arizona State has a lot of strength in the sprint events and other areas, but we have an advantage in the hurdles and some of the field events. I don't think it is necessarily going to be who wins the events, but who finishes second and third in the events that will decide the team race. (On the Cardinal Invitational) Tara (Chaplin) has not run an outdoor 5,000m race this year, and we would like to get the NCAA qualifying time for her in the event this week. Micheil (Jones) is also going to go after the qualifying time this week, and he is going to have to run pretty, darn fast to do it the way the 5,000m qualifying is going this year. I think we had a good weekend, but not a great weekend (at the Drake Relays). Jeff Dutoit was the highlight for us, winning the pole vault competition. I think that we could have done better in a couple of the relays, but we still had some good times and performances in them.