April 14, 2002

Charlotte, NC - The Wake Forest men's and women's track & field teams had a successful day at the Charlotte Invitational in a final tune-up before the conference championships next weekend. Three school records were broken and seven Demon Deacons set personal records on the day.

Cassy Richards won the long jump with a school record-breaking mark of 18-9 and Jen Leesman shattered the school record in the hammer throw in her first-ever try with a mark of 125-0, 22-feet better than the previous school record. Jill Kovalcik set a personal record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.01. Tess Fath was the runner-up in the 1,500m with a personal best time of 4:35.91. Catherine Fortin-Major took third place in the 800m with a personal best time of 2:17.95. Kovalcik and Liz Washam both cleared 10-11.75 in the pole vault, tying for second place and tying the school record.

On the men's side, Branston Williams won the 400m hurdles and broke his own school record with a time of 54.10. Cliff Neal set personal records in both the shot put and the discus, reaching 45-1.75 in the shot put and 132-3 in the discus. Mike Altieri, competing in the 3,000m steeplechase for the first time ever, won the event and was 20-seconds ahead of the next finisher. Altieri's time of 9:12.22 is the second-best time in the ACC this season and the ninth-best time in school history. Chris Estwanik won the 800m with a personal best time of 1:50.42 - the sixth-best time in school history and Nathan Sisco was right behind, taking second, with a personal best time of 1:50.46 - the seventh best time in school history.

Wake Forest will return to action this weekend when the Demon Deacons travel to Charlottesville, VA for the ACC Championships, April 19-20. For complete results from the Charlotte Invitational go to charlotte49ers.com.