Two Memphis Tigers advance to NCAA Track and Field Championships

Senior Gaute Myklebust (Sand, Norway), the 2004 C-USA Male Co-Outdoor Athlete of the Year, won the NCAA Mid-East Regional discus championship with a toss of 60.42m (198-03.00). Myklebust became the first Tiger in school history to win a regional championship Saturday at the NCAA Mid-East Track & Field Regional hosted by Louisiana State University at Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

"My first three throws were a little off," said an elated Myklebust. "But after that, I was feeling really good. I'm very happy with the way things went today."

"He is on the verge of throwing 210 feet," said Assistant Coach Kevin Robinson. "He is very close to being at his best. He did what he needed to do this weekend and won the competition. I am excited about his chances of contending for a national championship in Austin."

Senior Mate Nemeth (Szekszard, Hungary) placed fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase and earned spot at the NCAA Championships with a time of 9:02.15. Nemeth entered the race as the fourth seed with a season best time of 8:45.88. Nemeth and Myklebust wll return to the NCAA Track & Field Championships for the second consecutive year.

"I didn't run my best race today," said distance runner Mate Nemeth. "The humidity was tough to deal with here. But I'm happy that I have a chance to compete at nationals. That was my goal, to advance to nationals."

The temperature at race time (7:30 p.m.) in Baton Rouge was 86 degrees with humidity of 96 percent. It was hot and muggy as temperatures were in the low 90's for most of the weekend.

Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan won the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:44.40. A pair of Ohio State runners placed second and third as Aaron Fisher ran an 8:50.10 and Brian Olinger ran a time of 8:54.95 respectively.

With the 14 points scored by Nemeth and Myklebust, Memphis placed 15th of 46 schools at the regional meet on the men's side.

Junior Victoria Crawford set a personal record in the triple jump with a mark of 12.57m (41-03.00). Crawford finished third in her flight, and did not advance to the finals. She entered the meet ranked 17th and placed 12th. Bernitta Johnson of Miami-Ohio had the best mark in Crawford's flight at 12.80m and the competition was won by Shelly-Ann Gallimore of Auburn with a jump of 13.65m.

Crawford was the only female athlete to qualify for the post-season in 2004. She was the second Lady Tiger in as many years to compete in the triple jump at the regional as Lisa-Marie Hyman qualified and competed in 2003.

"She (Victoria) had the best jump of her career in the biggest meet of her career," said Coach Robinson. "What else can you ask for as a coach? She had an excellent performance today."

LSU won the women's Mid-East Region Championship with 111 points, while Arkansas won the men's title with 95 points.

On June 10-13 Nemeth and Myklebust will represent the University of Memphis in the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.


Louisiana State University T&F
NCAA Division I 2004 Outdoor
Track & Field MidEast Regional
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - 5/28/2004 to 5/29/2004

Event 18 Men Discus Throw
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American: A 72.34m 7/7/1981 Ben Plucknett, S. Cal Striders
College Best: C 70.84m 5/27/1992 Kamy Keshmiri, Nevada
MidEast Regn: M 65.05m 5/30/2003 Gabor Mate, Auburn
Bernie Moore: B 63.56m 1985 Mike Buncic, Kentucky
Name Year School Finals Points
=================================================================================
Flight 1
1 Mike Sracic FR Wisconsin 52.93m 173-08 2
2 John Erickson JR Mississippi State 52.69m 172-10 1
3 Mike Minton SR Indiana 48.54m 159-03
4 Jay Heddell SR SE Missouri 43.70m 143-04
-- Steve Manz SR Michigan State FOUL
-- Nicholas Gazis JR Illinois-Chicago FOUL
Flight 2
1 Brandon Cook SO Louisville 53.75m 176-04 4
2 Clark Wilson JR Western Michigan 52.58m 172-06
3 Brent Shelby SO Kent State 52.53m 172-04
4 Johan Persson SO Louisiana-Monroe 51.50m 168-11
5 Arthur Turland SO Louisville 51.12m 167-08
6 Dustin Shaffer SR Akron 50.61m 166-00
7 Scott Hecht SR Purdue 50.40m 165-04
7 Bobby Musil FR Missouri 50.40m 165-04
-- Tony Tzouanakis SR Kentucky FOUL
Flight 3
1 Gaute Myklebust SR Memphis 60.42m 198-03 10
2 Edis Elkasevic FR Auburn 58.70m 192-07 8
3 Steven Boozer FR Alabama 56.05m 183-11 6
4 Raigo Toompuu JR Western Kentucky 56.01m 183-09 5
5 Matt Vincent JR LSU 53.14m 174-04 3
6 Cory Martin FR Auburn 52.61m 172-07
7 Andy Fryman FR Kentucky 52.35m 171-09
8 Joe Thomas FR Wisconsin 51.92m 170-04
9 Dan Taylor SR Ohio State 49.51m 162-05
10 Ryan Billingsley JR Western Illinois 48.89m 160-05
11 Candon Powell JR Arkansas State 42.08m 138-01
-- Ryan Ketchum SO Indiana FOUL
=================================================================================
Name Year School Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Gaute Myklebust SR Memphis 60.42m 198-03 10
2 Edis Elkasevic FR Auburn 58.70m 192-07 8
3 Steven Boozer FR Alabama 56.05m 183-11 6
4 Raigo Toompuu JR Western Kentucky 56.01m 183-09 5
5 Brandon Cook SO Louisville 53.75m 176-04 4
6 Matt Vincent JR LSU 53.14m 174-04 3
7 Mike Sracic FR Wisconsin 52.93m 173-08 2
8 John Erickson JR Mississippi State 52.69m 172-10 1
9 Cory Martin FR Auburn 52.61m 172-07
10 Clark Wilson JR Western Michigan 52.58m 172-06
11 Brent Shelby SO Kent State 52.53m 172-04
12 Andy Fryman FR Kentucky 52.35m 171-09
13 Joe Thomas FR Wisconsin 51.92m 170-04
14 Johan Persson SO Louisiana-Monroe 51.50m 168-11
15 Arthur Turland SO Louisville 51.12m 167-08
16 Dustin Shaffer SR Akron 50.61m 166-00
17 Scott Hecht SR Purdue 50.40m 165-04
17 Bobby Musil FR Missouri 50.40m 165-04
19 Dan Taylor SR Ohio State 49.51m 162-05
20 Ryan Billingsley JR Western Illinois 48.89m 160-05
21 Mike Minton SR Indiana 48.54m 159-03
22 Jay Heddell SR SE Missouri 43.70m 143-04
23 Candon Powell JR Arkansas State 42.08m 138-01
-- Ryan Ketchum SO Indiana FOUL
-- Tony Tzouanakis SR Kentucky FOUL
-- Nicholas Gazis JR Illinois-Chicago FOUL
-- Steve Manz SR Michigan State FOUL

Event 6 Men 3000 Meter Steeplechase
=======================================================================
American: A 8:09.17 8/28/1985 Henry Marsh, Athletics West
College Best: C 8:05.4h 5/13/1978 Henry Rono, Washington State
MidEast Regn: M 8:37.56 5/31/2003 Dan Lincoln, Arkansas
Bernie Moore: B 8:22.34 2002 Daniel Lincoln, Arkansas
Name Year School Finals Points
=======================================================================
Section 1
1 Aaron Harding JR Indiana State 9:17.43
2 Matt Loiselle FR Central Michigan 9:22.13
3 Walter Whitfield JR Louisiana-Lafayette 9:23.90
4 Jon Houseworth SO Illinois 9:25.60
5 Ryan Johnson JR Notre Dame 9:26.92
6 Linas Salkauskas SO TN-Chattanooga 9:27.96
7 Matt Noonan SO Missouri 9:28.45
8 Doug Brown SO Tennessee 9:34.07
9 Marcus Aguilar SO Indiana 9:36.76
10 Travis McKay FR Mississippi State 10:18.44
Section 2
1 Jordan Desilets SR Eastern Michigan 8:44.40 10
2 Aaron Fisher JR Ohio State 8:50.10 8
3 Brian Olinger JR Ohio State 8:54.95 6
4 Peter Weisz SR Kent State 8:59.29 5
5 Mate Nemeth SR Memphis 9:02.15 4
6 Dan Huling SO Miami-Ohio 9:06.17 3
7 Chris Stine SR Western Michigan 9:07.34 2
8 Jeff Davis SR Central Michigan 9:07.63 1
9 Jacob Stout SO Eastern Illinois 9:13.88
10 Corey Nowitzke FR Eastern Michigan 9:16.03
11 Mike Ciccarelli SR Purdue 9:17.13
12 Gary Blackman SR Butler 9:21.51
13 Kurt Michaelis SR Youngstown State 9:24.79
14 Sjaan Gerth SR Ohio State 9:27.76
15 Todd Fayant SR Alabama 9:29.61
16 David Rae JR Purdue 9:45.29
-- Jeff Day FR Tennessee DNS
-- Tim Kelly SR Tennessee DNS
=======================================================================
Name Year School Finals Points
=======================================================================
Finals
1 Jordan Desilets SR Eastern Michigan 8:44.40 10
2 Aaron Fisher JR Ohio State 8:50.10 8
3 Brian Olinger JR Ohio State 8:54.95 6
4 Peter Weisz SR Kent State 8:59.29 5
5 Mate Nemeth SR Memphis 9:02.15 4
6 Dan Huling SO Miami-Ohio 9:06.17 3
7 Chris Stine SR Western Michigan 9:07.34 2
8 Jeff Davis SR Central Michigan 9:07.63 1
9 Jacob Stout SO Eastern Illinois 9:13.88
10 Corey Nowitzke FR Eastern Michigan 9:16.03
11 Mike Ciccarelli SR Purdue 9:17.13
12 Aaron Harding JR Indiana State 9:17.43
13 Gary Blackman SR Butler 9:21.51
14 Matt Loiselle FR Central Michigan 9:22.13
15 Walter Whitfield JR Louisiana-Lafayette 9:23.90
16 Kurt Michaelis SR Youngstown State 9:24.79
17 Jon Houseworth SO Illinois 9:25.60
18 Ryan Johnson JR Notre Dame 9:26.92
19 Sjaan Gerth SR Ohio State 9:27.76
20 Linas Salkauskas SO TN-Chattanooga 9:27.96
21 Matt Noonan SO Missouri 9:28.45
22 Todd Fayant SR Alabama 9:29.61
23 Doug Brown SO Tennessee 9:34.07
24 Marcus Aguilar SO Indiana 9:36.76
25 David Rae JR Purdue 9:45.29
26 Travis McKay FR Mississippi State 10:18.44
-- Jeff Day FR Tennessee DNS
-- Tim Kelly SR Tennessee DNS

Event 36 Women Triple Jump
======================================================================================
American: A 14.41m 7/8/1996 Shelia Hudson, Reebok
College Best: C 14.22m 5/25/1997 Trecia Smith, Pittsburg
MidEast Regn: M 13.58m 5/31/2003 Nicole Toney, LSU
Bernie Moore: B 14.09m 2000 Suzette Lee, Unattached
Name Year School Finals Wind Points
======================================================================================
Flight 1
1 Bernitta Johnson SR Miami-Ohio 12.80m 42-00.00
2 Shayla Moore JR Ohio State 12.70m 41-08.00
3 Victoria Crawford JR Memphis 12.57m 41-03.00
4 Petra Dankova SO Notre Dame 12.48m 40-11.50
5 Rushetta Baker JR Alcorn State 12.45m 40-10.25
6 Inna Turevsky SR Southern Illinois 12.26m 40-02.75
7 April Howell SO Samford 12.21m 40-00.75
8 Kristin Truman SR E. Tenn St. 12.18m 39-11.50
9 Michelle Bellford FR Loyola-IL 12.08m 39-07.75
10 Taren James FR Michigan State 12.07m 39-07.25
11 Kou Luogon SO Alabama 12.03m 39-05.75
Flight 2
1 Shelly-Ann Gallimore SR Auburn 13.65m 44-09.50 10
2 Nicole Toney SR LSU 13.30m 43-07.75 8
2 Rosalind Goodwin JR Ohio State 13.30m 43-07.75 6
4 Sherita Williams SR Michigan State 13.23m 43-05.00 5
5 Ayanna Alexander JR Louisiana Tech 13.15m 43-01.75 4
6 Luan Weekes JR SW Missouri St. 12.98m 42-07.00 3
7 Jackie Smart SO Central Michigan 12.96m 42-06.25 2
8 Lauren Chesnut SR Indiana 12.91m 42-04.25 1
9 Colleen Ramharak JR Kent State 12.61m 41-04.50
10 LaTasha Pharr JR Alabama 12.57m 41-03.00
11 Yolanda Wright SO Indiana State 12.27m 40-03.25
12 Kemba Johnson SO Eastern Michigan 12.08m 39-07.75
======================================================================================
Name Year School Finals Wind Points
======================================================================================
Finals
1 Shelly-Ann Gallimore SR Auburn 13.65m 2.8 44-09.50 10
2 Nicole Toney SR LSU 13.30m 2.5 43-07.75 8
3 Rosalind Goodwin JR Ohio State 13.30m 1.3 43-07.75 6
4 Sherita Williams SR Michigan State 13.23m 3.2 43-05.00 5
5 Ayanna Alexander JR Louisiana Tech 13.15m 2.9 43-01.75 4
6 Luan Weekes JR SW Missouri St. 12.98m 2.8 42-07.00 3
7 Jackie Smart SO Central Michigan 12.96m 3.3 42-06.25 2
8 Lauren Chesnut SR Indiana 12.91m 2.5 42-04.25 1
9 Bernitta Johnson SR Miami-Ohio 12.80m 0.9 42-00.00
10 Shayla Moore JR Ohio State 12.70m 2.7 41-08.00
11 Colleen Ramharak JR Kent State 12.61m 2.5 41-04.50
12 Victoria Crawford JR Memphis 12.57m 1.4 41-03.00
12 LaTasha Pharr JR Alabama 12.57m 2.3 41-03.00
14 Petra Dankova SO Notre Dame 12.48m 2.6 40-11.50
15 Rushetta Baker JR Alcorn State 12.45m 1.8 40-10.25
16 Yolanda Wright SO Indiana State 12.27m 2.6 40-03.25
17 Inna Turevsky SR Southern Illinois 12.26m 2.1 40-02.75
18 April Howell SO Samford 12.21m 3.7 40-00.75
19 Kristin Truman SR E. Tenn St. 12.18m 1.4 39-11.50
20 Michelle Bellford FR Loyola-IL 12.08m 2.3 39-07.75
20 Kemba Johnson SO Eastern Michigan 12.08m 3.0 39-07.75
22 Taren James FR Michigan State 12.07m 0.5 39-07.25
23 Kou Luogon SO Alabama 12.03m 2.0 39-05.75
======================================================================================
Women - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored
======================================================================================
1) LSU 111 2) Tennessee 65
3) Michigan 53 4) Arkansas 51
5) Auburn 47 6) Alabama 35
7) Ohio State 34 8) Michigan State 32
9) Missouri 23 10) Louisiana Tech 22
11) Notre Dame 20 12) Southern Mississippi 16
12) Purdue 16 14) Southwest Missouri State 14
14) Tulane 14 14) Akron 14
17) Illinois 13 17) Eastern Michigan 13
17) Mississippi State 13 20) Toledo 10
20) Kentucky 10 20) Vanderbilt 10
23) Wisconsin 8 23) Butler 8
23) Western Illinois 8 23) Middle Tennessee State 8
23) South Alabama 8 28) Indiana State 7
29) Mississippi 6 29) Tennessee-Chattanooga 6
29) Louisville 6 29) Kent State 6
33) Indiana 5 33) Northwestern State 5
33) Illinois State 5 33) Miami-Ohio 5
37) Southeastern Louisiana 4 38) Louisiana-Monroe 3
39) Southern Illinois 2 39) Central Michigan 2
39) Belmont 2 42) Loyola-IL 1

================================================================================
Men - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored
================================================================================
1) Arkansas 95 2) LSU 70
3) Auburn 51 4) Ohio State 48
5) Tennessee 43 6) Wisconsin 30
6) Indiana 30 8) Mississippi State 26
9) Kentucky 24 10) Purdue 23
10) Southern Mississippi 23 12) Middle Tennessee State 22
13) Western Kentucky 18 13) Illinois 18
15) Memphis 14 16) Miami-Ohio 13.50
17) Cincinnati 12 18) Mississippi 11
18) Michigan State 11 20) Southern Illinois 10
20) Eastern Michigan 10 20) Michigan 10
20) Southern 10 24) Alabama 9
25) Butler 8 25) Central Michigan 8
27) Northwestern State 7.50 28) Missouri 7
29) Jackson State 6 29) Indiana State 6
29) Ball State 6 29) Notre Dame 6
33) Kent State 5 33) Southwest Missouri State 5
35) South Alabama 4 35) Akron 4
35) Arkansas-Little Rock 4 35) Louisiana-Lafayette 4
35) McNeese State 4 35) Louisville 4
41) Arkansas State 3 41) Western Michigan 3
41) Alcorn State 3 44) Louisiana Tech 2
44) Tennessee-Chattanooga 2 46) Mississippi Valley 1
46) Eastern Illinois 1