Feb. 15, 2001

Matt Jackson (center) and Steve Sherer (right) came out strong at the opening meet of the season. Sherer and Jackson finished one/two in the 800-meter race at the Spartan Invitational. Matt Ingram (pictured here), Paul Terek, Terry Jenkins and Andy Lixey have the Big Ten's seventh-fastest 4x400 relay time (3:16.79). Freshman sensation Steve Manz broke a 22 year old school record in the shot put earlier this season and continues to improve on it. Last week, Manz threw 58' 8 3/4" at the Iowa State Classic, his personal best and an NCAA provisional distance.

The Spartans' mulit-guy Paul Terek (seen here competing in the shot put event) is currently the tops in the conference in the pole vault. Terek's jump of 17' 8 1/2" at the Red Simmons Invitational was not only a school record performance, but also a NCAA provisional height. The jump also is ranked fifth-best in the country. Freshman Steve Sherer has solidified the Spartans distance squad, running personal-best times in the mile (4:13.18) and the 800-meter (1:52.65). Teammate Andy Lixey current holds the fastest time on the team in the 800-meter (1:50.27), which is also the fastest in the Big Ten.