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YPSILANTI, Mich. (April 16-17) ? Greeted with some of the finest weather of the outdoor season, Western Michigan turned in a solid performance at the Eastern Michigan Invitational, held Friday and Saturday at Olds-Marshall Track. The meet was not scored.
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Western Michigan, rated 16th in this week's "team power rankings", posted a pair of NCAA regional-qualifying marks. Junior Kristi Ford broke her school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 187'-3" -- the best distance in the Mid-American Conference this year. Ford also took second in the high jump, clearing 5'6" for the third time in 2004.
Ford, who qualified for the NCAA Regional at LSU two weeks ago, will be joined by the 4x400 relay squad in Baton Rouge. The quartet of Janaule Bennett, Shayna Sangster, Sheriese Lucas and Krisy Mahome circled the track four times in 3:40.20 to earn a regional berth.
Earlier in the day, Bennett captured the 400m dash, clocking a P.R. of 55.60. Victoria Bassett also registered a P.R. of 57.57 to place fourth.
In other performances of note, freshman Katie Pickette was runner-up in the 400m hurdles with a P.R. of 1:02.54. Sangster logged WMU's first sub-25 of the year in the 200m dash, finishing fifth in a time of 24.98. In the long jump, WMU took third and fourth behind efforts from Janee Beville (18'-5.75") and Lucas (18'-5").
"Any time you run against two good conference rivals like Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, good things can happen and that was the case today," said coach Kelly Lycan. "We have a really good rivalry heating up with EMU in the 4x400, you could feel the electricity in the air before the race."
WMU will send split squads to the Drake Relays (April 21-24) and the "Gina" Hillsdale Relays (April 22-24) next week.
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Men's Track & Field
Eastern Michigan Invitational/Mount SAC Relays
YPSILANTI, Mich. (April 16-17) ? While the days may be numbered for one of the Mid-American Conference's best track rivalries, it didn't take away from a strongly-contested Eastern Michigan Invitational, conducted Friday and Saturday at Olds-Marshall Track.
Going head-to-head against rival Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan turned in some of its best performances of the season.
In the field events, Clark Wilson recorded a pair of regional-qualifying marks, finishing first in the discus throw (174'-2") and second in the shot put (55'-9.75"). Pole vaulter Dustin Anderson cleared 15'-7.25" in a runner-up finish.
"This was a breakout meet for us," said coach Mike Turk. "The weather cooperated with us and we were able to produce some good marks in the field events."
On the track, Darius Johnson placed fourth (10.86) and Alfred Woods fifth (10.90) in the 100m dash. Jacob Friess continued his strong campaign with a fifth-place showing in the 110m hurdles, clocking a time of 14.65.
Meanwhile, several thousand miles away, Chris Stine represented WMU at the Mount SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. Competing against a national field, Stine took 12th place in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 9:08.14.
Western Michigan takes parts in final exams next week before sending split squads to the Drake Relays (April 22-24) and the "Gina" Hillsdale Relays (April 22-24).
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