Wyoming Track and Field Competes at NCAA Midwest Regional

John Griffith Qualifies for NCAA Championships.

Dan Williams recorded a personal best distance of 188' in the hammer throw to take 12th place. The senior also recorded a distance of 154' 11" in the discus throw.
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May 30, 2003

Lincoln, Neb. (May 30, 2003)-- Several University of Wyoming track and field athletes took center stage at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Midwest Regional Friday in Lincoln, Neb. The meet features 40 Division I men's and women's track and field programs from the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. The top five athletes in each event and the top three relay teams advance to the NCAA Championships, June 11-14 in Sacramento, Calif.

Senior John Griffith stole the spotlight for the Cowboys on Friday. The Sheridan, Wyo. native qualified for the NCAA Championships by throwing a personal best distance of 195' 4". Griffith's fifth place finish was one of the best underdog performances of the meet.

"John was ranked 59th in the country in the hammer coming into the meet," said UW head track and field coach Don Yentes. "He stepped it up and gave a performance that shocked everybody. He definitely earned his trip to Sacramento."

Dan Williams also competed in the hammer throw. The senior recorded a personal best distance of 188' to take 12th place. The senior also recorded

Senior Mervin Swaby ended his Cowboy long jump career with a disappointing 11th place finish. His distance of 23' 11" took second in his flight but did not qualify him for the final round. Swaby still has a chance to earn a trip to Sacramento when he competes in the triple jump tomorrow.

Sophomore Shauna Smith highlighted the Cowgirls by qualifying for the finals in two events. In the 400 meter hurdles, Smith recorded the second fastest time of the day and broke her own school record crossing the finish line in 57.99. In the 100 meter hurdles Smith ran a personal best time of 13.57, ranking sixth on the day and the second best time in UW history. Also in the 100 meter hurdles senior Kelly Ann Charles ran a personal best time of 13.71 but did not qualify for the finals.

Jessica Fox dominated her heat of the 400 meter dash cruising to a first place finish with a time of 52.10. Her time was the second fastest on the day and qualified her for the finals tomorrow. In the 200 meter dash senior Adelaide Harper set a new UW record with a time of 23.68. However, her time missed the qualifying cut for the finals.

In the 4x100 meter relay Fox, Smith, Charles and Harper raced to the finish line in 45.53, the second best time in UW history. The team managed to post the eighth best time of the day and qualify for tomorrow's final despite a poor baton exchange.

Junior Andrea Batt completed competition in the shot put with an 11th place finish with a mark of 47' 1". Batt will have two more chances to qualify for the NCAA Championships tomorrow as she is slated to compete in both the hammer and discus throws.

"We had a very good first day," said UW assistant track and field coach Paul Barrett. "Our athletes are competing in some very high pressure situations. All our kids stepped up today and competed very well."

The 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Midwest Regional concludes tomorrow at Ed Weir Track