May 3, 2004

Results

ATHENS, Ohio - Seniors Lauren Collins (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) and Andrea Kremer (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) each won two events to lead first-place finishers for Miami University's women's track & field, Saturday afternoon at the Southern Ohio Cup in Athens. The RedHawks took top honors on the women's side with 160.5 points, but finished second overall in the men's and women's combined scores. Cincinnati won the Southern Ohio Cup, winning the men's side and taking second on the women's.

In the shot put, Collins acheived a regional-qualifying mark for the first time this season, winning with a throw of 47-9 1/4. She also took top honors in the weight throw by 15-8, with a toss of 165-10. Kremer picked up first-place finishes in both the 3,000 steeplechase and 1,500m. In the steeplechase, she crossed the line in 11:01.72, while posting a time of 4:38.69 in the 1,500. Sophomore Kelly Ardelean (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) took fourth in the event, finishing in 4:48.14.

Defending MAC Champion Erin Connolly (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) and junior Tabitha Schwartz (Concord, Va./Appomatox) also won events for the Red and White on the meet. Connolly qualified for the NCAA Regionals with a time of 13.75 in the 110m hurdles, matching her season-best time. In winning the pole vault, Schwartz topped second place by six inches, with a final vault of 11-6.

Senior Bernitta Johnson (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) and freshman Lashonda Davis (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) each won their respective jumping events, and also teamed with freshman Jamila Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) and senior Erika Harper (Bedford, Ohio/Bedford) to win the 4x100 relay in 46.34. Bernitta Johnson topped the triple jump with a distance of 39-11 1/2, with Davis taking third with 38-0. In the long jump, it was Davis taking top honors with a leap of 19-3 1/2, ahead of Bernitta in fourth at 18-2 1/4.

On the women's side of the meet, Miami topped the field, 27.5 points ahead of second-place Cincinnati (133 points). Ohio University rounded out the three-team meet, taking third with 107.5. The format of the meet is unique in that the champion is determined by combining women's and men's team scores. Overall, the Bearcats took home the Southern Ohio Cup with 311 total points, ahead of the Red and White's 301.5 points and the Bobcats with 191.5.

Two more wins in throwing events rounded out the day's winners for the RedHawks, including freshman Quekan Ibidunni's (Boulder, Colo./Fairview) first collegiate win. She topped the discus field, registering a season-best 142-9. Sophomore Joanna Borawski (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) went on to her second consecutive javelin event, this time with a throw of 134-8.

The RedHawks return to action at the Billy Hayes Invitational, May 7, in Bloomington, Ind. The meet is Miami's final tune-up before hosting the MAC Championships, May 13-15.