MEN PLACE FIRST, WOMEN THIRD AT ELMHURST INTERCOLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL,
NELSON GRANT QUALIFIES FOR NCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN HIGH JUMP
MEET RESULTS
           
      Elmhurst, Ill - April 23, 2001 - The men's track and field team finished first while the women's team finished third at the Elmhurst Intercollegiate Invitational last Saturday (April 21). Senior Nelson Grant (Homewood--Homewood-Flossmoor) cleared 6'9.5" in the high jump at the Elmhurst Intercollegiate Invitational last Saturday (April 21) to automatically qualify for the NCAA National Tournament. He also won the triple jump with a season high of 43'2". Several Bluejays placed in their events, including freshman John McMillian (Miami, Fla.-South Miami), who was first in both the 100 and 200 meters. Freshman Adrien Henry (Chicago-Steinmetz) set lifetime personal records when he placed second in the 110-meter hurdles and third in the 400-meter hurdles.
      ELMHURST INTERCOLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL - The Elmhurst men placed first and the women finished third at the Elmhurst Intercollegiate Invitational last Saturday (April 21). "I'm very happy to win the home meet for the second year in a row," Head Men's Coach Bob Schultz said. "It's always a boost heading into the conference championships."
      Grant placed first in the high jump and automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament when he cleared 6'9.5". Freshman John Hartmann (Island Lake-Wauconda), who had automatically qualified for nationals in the high jump two weeks ago, finished immediately behind him in second place. Grant also won the triple jump, going 43'2".
      "Nelson was one of our Performers of the Week for his first-place performances," Schultz said. "He and John are now tied for third in the country in the high jump."
      On the track, McMillian won the 100 meters in a lifetime personal-record time of 10.84. He also finished first in the 200 meters in 22.38. "To win both the 100- and 200-meter dash as a freshman is great," Schultz said. "He also ran our fastest split in the 4x400 meter relay."
      Henry placed second in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.14 and was third in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.58. Both were lifetime personal records for Henry.
      Senior Lewis Polanco-Webb (Clarksville, Tenn.-Northeast) had a lifetime personal record when he finished just behind Henry in the 400-meter hurdles, in fourth place in 59.25.
      In the men's 5,000 meters, Elmhurst swept the top three places. Sophomore Joe Pontrelli (Wood Dale-Fenton) was first, followed by junior Jim Akita (Elmhurst-York) and senior Armando Campos (Chicago-Farragut). Sophomore Jason Malmassari (Sycamore-H.S.), who earlier in the week was named an Academic All-American, placed second in the steeplechase in 9:46.17.
      In the javelin, senior Tom Cartwright (Merritt Island, Fla.-H.S.), Hartmann and sophomore Andy Thompson (St. Charles-H.S.) all set lifetime personal records. They finished second, third and fifth, respectively, with throws of 146', 137'6.5" and 130'10". Meanwhile, senior captain Eric Gamauf (Morris-H.S.) placed second and set a lifetime personal record in the pole vault, clearing 14'. The versatile Gamauf also placed third in the long jump, leaping 21'1.5".
      "Eric set lifetime personal records in the pole vault and discus, and came close in the 110 hurdles and the high jump," Schultz said. "He was also honored as one of our Performers of the Week."
      On the women's side, freshman Kathleen Brice (Elk Grove-H.S.), placed second in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in 4:46.15 and 10:35.29, respectively. Her twin, Erin, finished directly behind her in the 3,000 in 10:43.09.
      Junior Marcia Roggenkamp (Botkins, Ohio-H.S.) placed second in the steeplechase in 13:28.85, while junior Mindy Wolf (Woodstock-H.S.) was third in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:10.09. Sophomore Kelly Van Guilder (Plymouth, Minn.-Wayzata) placed third in both the 100 and 200 meters, running 12.65 and 26.56, respectively.
      In the field events, junior Emily Phillips (Big Rock-Sandwich) placed second in the pole vault, clearing 7'9", while senior Shannon McNelis (Markham-Tinley Park) set a lifetime personal record and finished third in the javelin with a throw of 97'5". Sophomore Caroline Evans (Westfield, Ind.--Westfield-Washington) finished third in the high jump, clearing 4'7", and fourth in the long jump, going 16'6".
      The Bluejay track and field team will participate in the Illinois Wesleyan University Invitational beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (April 28).