February 25, 2006

HOUSTON, Texas - Tulane University was led by a talented group of freshmen at the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship this weekend at the Yeoman Field House on the campus of the University of Houston. Freshman Valencia Wilson earned four points with a fifth-place effort in the 400-meter dash while she also anchored Tulane's 4x400 relay team which posted a third-place showing for six points.

The Green Wave's 4x400 relay team was among the youngest in the meet as sophomore Shanon Beelendorf was joined by freshmen Shaina Pelham, Vanessa Kienast and Wilson. They posted a time of 3:50.10 in the race.

"Our freshmen really stepped up in the meet," Tulane head coach Heather Van Norman said. "We have had to deal with a lot this year with the hurricane and being displaced, but we came out and gave it our best effort. Now that we are back settled at home, we are very excited to get going with the outdoor season."

Tulane's track team was displaced to multiple campuses for the entire fall semester due to Hurricane Katrina. Training sessions were very limited putting the Wave behind other teams for the indoor season. Even with the return to New Orleans, the Tulane track suffered extensive damage from flooding.

Other solid performances were turned in by Pelham, Beelendorf and junior Kyra Lobbins, who all had personal records in the 400-meter dash.

The Houston women won their second straight C-USA indoor title and fourth in the last five years after sealing the victory with a 4x400-meter relay title. Houston was up 6.5 points on Rice entering the final race and clinched the victory by getting the baton around in 3:43.05. The Cougars finished with 141.50 points, while the Owls took second with 126 points.

UTEP was third with 72, Tulsa fourth with 66, Southern Miss fifth with 60, SMU sixth with 51, UCF seventh with 44, UAB eighth with 36, Memphis ninth with 28, East Carolina tenth with 20.50, Tulane was 11th with 10 points and Marshall scored eight points to finish 12th.

Tulane will open the 2006 outdoor track season on Saturday, March 11, competing in the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg.

Tulane Results:
60 Meters
Taneekwa Ross, 7.87 (19th place) - season-best

200 Meters
Kyra Lobbins, 25.92 (20th place)

400 Meters
Valenica Wilson, 56.20 (5th place) - Finals (4 points)
Valencia Wilson, 56.81 (7th place) - Prelims
Shaina Pelham, 58.03 (12th place) - Prelims - P.R.
Shanon Beelendorf, 58.20 (14th place) - Prelims - season-best
Kyra Lobbins, 59.25 (20th place) - Prelims - P.R.

800 Meters
Whitney Hampton, 2:16.92 (11th place)
Vanessa Kienast, 2:22.58 (20th place)

3000 Meters
Aubrey Phillips, 10:58.65 (28th place)

60 Meter Hurdles
Ashley Bernard, 10.07 (19th place) - P.R.

4x400 Relay
Beelendorf, Pelham, Kienast, Wilson, 3:50.10 (3rd place) - 6 points

Long Jump
Marilyn Sauls, 5.16m, 16-11.25 (19th place)
Christina Tegbe, 4.74m, 15-06.75 (23rd place)

Shot Put
Brianne Darragh, 8.74m, 28-08.25 (14th place)