Saturday, January 21, 2006

(1/21/2006) - The ETSU track & field squad continued the momentum from a solid opening day of competition at the Niswonger Invitational, and ended the meet with two more titles and another school record.

            Senior James Rainer (Alcoa, Tenn.) followed up his school-record performance a day ago with his first 60 meter dash title of the year, running 6.74 to edge Savannah State's Rondrick Parker by one-hundredth of a second.

            In the high jump, junior Anna Marie Ricciardi (Canfield, Ohio) took her second title of the season, leaping a personal-best 1.75 meters (5-8.75).  Ricciardi dominated the high jump field with no other competitor clearing 1.65 meters (5-5), and came within one inch of posting a NCAA Provisional qualifying mark.

            Junior Daniel Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) broke a 38 year-old school record in the pole vault.  His vault of 4.45 meters (14-7.25) broke Richard Harris' old mark of 14-6 set all the way back in 1968.

            Freshman Michael Reber (Sunbright, Tenn.) turned in a solid performance in the long jump, finishing fifth with a leap of 6.72 meters (22-0.75).

            Other meet competitors also fared exceptionally well on the day, breaking seven more meet records. Mitchell Pope's (N.C. State) shot put of 18.03 meters (59-2) shattered the old mark of 16.93 meters (55-6.5).  The UAB women's distance medley team ran a 12:17.14, breaking the old mark of 13:07.53.  Running unattached, Peta-Gaye Dowdie laid claim to two meet records running the 60 meter dash in 7.39 (old record 7.40) and the 200-meters in 23.43 (old record 24.04). Both mile records fell on the day as well, with Nikeya Green (unattached) turning in a 4:55.74 (old record 5:04.66) and Anthony Famiglietti (Adidas) running a 4:04.28 (old record 4:10.46). St. Augustine's 4x400 meter women's relay team broke the day's final record in 3:44.31 (old record 3:46.60).

            For full results from today's action as well as yesterday's, click the link provided at the top of the page.

            The ETSU team returns to action January 28 in Lexington, Ky. at the Rob McCravy Invitational.