Split splash
Falcons garner qualifiers in pair of NE Ohio meets
| Results - Roo / B-W |

AKRON, Ohio – Notre Dame athletes participated in two Northeast Ohio meets Friday, splitting the squad to compete in both the B-W Invitational in Berea and the Roo-Town Open in Akron. NDC performed well at each venue, with several athletes earning NDC marks and/or meeting qualifying standards for the NAIA National Indoor Championships.

Roo-Town Open
The Roo-Town Open, hosted by the University of Akron, featured over 300 athletes from 13 different schools. The Falcons used the event as a springboard to Tennessee (NAIA Nationals), as two new national qualifying times were established.

Both the Men's and Women's 4x400 Meter Relay teams posted NDC records in Stile Field House Friday. The Men's 4x400 (Robinson-Kinches-Sheffey-Bruce) posted a program-best 3:24.47. The Women's relay (May-Patrick-Hill-Wanzo) blazed the 4x400 in 4:01.80, shaving 11 seconds off the previous NDC school record. The women's time qualifies for NAIA Nationals.

Individually, freshman Andre Robinson (Cleveland, OH) ran a 50.20 in the Men's 400 Meter Dash to post a new program record for Notre Dame.

Sophomore speedster Cherice May (Eudlid, OH) ran a national qualifying time of 2:20.89 in the Women's 800 Meter Run.

In addition to the qualifying times and Robinson's record, senior speedster April Wanzo (Cleveland, OH) bested her earlier qualifier in the Women's 200 Meter Dash with a time of 25.62 seconds.

B-W Invitational
Baldwin-Wallace hosted the meet in Berea, to which NDC sent most of their athletes on Friday. In Berea, the NDC Men's team collected 10 medals (five Silver, five Bronze).

Jim Boals (So/North Benton, OH) established a new NDC mark in the Weight Throw with a toss of 14.82 meters (48-07.50). And the Falcons' 4x200 Relay team (Swift-Tolliver-McKrill-George) set a new NDC record with a time of 1:32.36.

The NDC Women earned five medals at B-W (one Gold, three Silver, one Bronze). Their performance was highlighted by freshman Ariel Baker (Maple Heights, OH), who won Gold in the Long Jump with a leap of 4.91 meters (16-01.50). That jump by the newcomer from Maple Heights High School established a new program best. Fellow freshman Khadiya DeSilva (East Cleveland, OH) tied the previous NDC record in the same event with a jump of 4.80 meters (15-09) to place third. Baker also set a new NDC mark with a time of 9.35 seconds in the 55 Meter Hurdles.

"Friday was a great day for us, and in both venues," said Head Coach Joe Magill.

The two meets Friday bring Notre Dame to the mid-point of their 2008 Indoor campaign. The Falcons will travel to Findlay, Ohio next Friday, Feb. 15, to compete in the Findlay Open.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

MORE RECORDS: Junior Angela Giamei (South Euclid, OH) set a new program mark in the Women's Triple Jump (9.33m, 30-7 1/2) at Baldwin-Wallace. Thrower Samantha Murphy (Fr/Columbus, OH) set a new NDC record in the weight throw (11.62m, 38-1 1/2).