April 18, 1998

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's track and field teams hosted the Spartan Invitational Saturday, and a pole vaulter for the Green and White women stole the show. Freshman Katie Meyer set new MSU and Spartan Invitational records with her leap of 10' 6". In the process, she qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships in Edwardsville, Ill. Friday-Saturday, June 26-27. Michigan State's other competitors in the vault also competed well. Meyer's freshman counterpart Jeannette Martus took second with a 10'0" vault, while sophomore Lauren Molinari finished third with a vault of 8' 11 <=". If that was not enough, Meyer also took third in the high jump competition with a leap of 5'3 <=", and Martus finished fourth in the long jump with a bound of 15'11".

The Spartans also received some other shining performances on Saturday from its sprint squad. In the 100-meter dash, MSU took first and second with senior Lawanda Byrd leading the field in 12.36 followed by freshman Shante Burke with a time of 12.78. Junior Lisa Holmes placed third in the 200-meter with a time of 26.17 while Burke finished fourth in 26.48. The distance crew was solid for Michigan State once again this season. Junior Karyn Duba won the 800 with a time of 2:15.58, while senior Becky Caldwell finished third in 2:17.32. In the 5,000-meter, senior Elyse Adelson flew past the field to take the title with a time of 18:58.04. For the men's track and field team, the focus was in East Lansing as well as in Walnut, Calif. for the Mt. San Antonio Relays. The Spartans split up their squad for the two meets with most of the distance runners heading West for the four day meet.

Michigan State All-American Jim Jurcevich was one of the Spartans that took the trip to California and it was well worth it. He won the 10,000-meter run with a time of 29:12.49, while junior Steve Schell took seventh in 29:31.32. Schell's finish was the fifth fastest collegiate time. Both times were good enough for NCAA provisional qualifying marks. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, junior Chris Wehrman finished seventh overall and fourth for college athletes with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8:51.60. Sophomore Ryan Taylor also set a provisional mark with a time of 14:09.22 in the 5,000. He finished ninth.

The Spartans also had some highlights from the harriers that remained at home. Sophomore E.J. Martin placed sixth in the 400-meter dash with a time 49.17. In the 800-meter, senior Eric Eichinger took fourth with a time of 1:52.52, while freshman Matt Ingram finished eighth in 1:56.08. #MSU#

MICHIGAN STATE INVITATIONAL
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL WINNERS

Javelin Throw   Kim Beckley, Toledo 33.24m (109-01) 
Pole Vault  Katie Meyer, MSU    10'06"
Long Jump   Michelle Delatour, Toledo   17-00.75 Shot Put   JoAnn Brown, Unatt. 41-06
High Jump   Kelle Saxen, Notre Dame 5-05.75 Triple Jump Beth Stover, MSU    34-02
100-meter hurdles   Arnika Edwards, Toledo  14.48 100-meter dash    Lawanda Byrd, MSU   12.36
200 meters  Coco Saunders, Toledo   24.79
400 meters  Carri Lenz, Notre Dame  58.18
1500 meters Stephanie Durenger, Unattached  4:35.88 800 meters  Karyn Duba  2:15.58
400 hurdles Sarah Lopienski, Notre Dame 1:06.64 3,000 meters    
Stephanie Durenger, Unattached  9:55.97 5,000 meters    
Elyse Adelson, MSU  18:58.04 4x400 relay    Toledo University   3:59.69
4x100 relay Toledo University   47.78

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
Hammer Throw    Fred Myall, CMU 55.82
Javelin Throw   Andrew McDonagh, Unattached 60.20m (197-060 

Pole Vault  Charles Dewildt, UM 16-02.75
Long Jump   Okie Agbomeirele    
Shot Put    Dale Cowper, Unatt. 49-01.75
High Jump   Mike Hanson, Unatt. 6-09.75
Triple Jump Taiwa Okusanya, UM  44-06.25
110-meter hurdles   Jarion Bradley, Unatt.  15.06 100-meter dash    Billy Chenault, Macomb  10.82 200 meters    
Billy Chenault, Macomb  21.42
400 meters  Emerson Jones, CMU  47.72
1500 meters Kyle Baker, Unatt.  3:58.30
800 meters  Trinity Townsend, Unatt.    1:50.34 400 hurdles Josh Sellers, UM    54.15
3,000 meter steeplechase    Kyle Baker, Unatt.  9:20.39 5,000 meters    
Lyle Mayers, Lansing Community College  15:12.65 4x400 relay    Michigan    3:14.24
4x100 relay Lansing Comm. College   44.19