North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Ready For ACC Track & Field Championships
4/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track
April 20, 2005
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The NC State men's and women's track & field teams begin action in the ACC Outdoor Championships at Florida State University April 21-23. The Wolfpack looks to not only finish high in the league standings, but to also qualify more individuals for NCAA regionals. Defending ACC Champions Andy Smith (steeplechase) and Ebony Foster (100m hurdles and 4x100m relay) will be leading NC State and seeking another gold medal.
Smith will not only be trying for his third straight ACC Championship in the steeplechase, but for the ACC Championship meet record as well. John Henderson, who has the league's fifth-best time in the steeplechase, looks to score points for NC State as well. Kristina Roth has the top women's time in the steeplechase and is aiming for gold. Leslie Jimison and Joanna Rodgers will also be competing in the women's steeplechase and hope to score as well.
Joya Rodgers has been the Wolfpack's best sprinter on the women's side this season and she looks to have a fast meet. A member of the 4x100m relay team that captured the ACC Championship last year, she will try to repeat that success in that event as well. Ebony Foster was also a member of that 4x100m relay team, as she looks to have a succesful debut in the 100m hurdles, 200m dash and the 4x100m relay. Out with a foot injury all spring after redshirting the indoor season, Foster will not only be looking to win her events and qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships, but to break her own conference and ACC Championships meet records in the 100m hurdles.
Matt Minnick has been th Pack's lone competitor this spring in the 100m. The Tallahasse, Fla., native hopes to have a career-best performance in his homecoming. He will have some help as Brian Clark and Jimmie Sutton, III, rejoin the track team now that spring football is finished.
Angelina Blackmon owns the third fastest time in the ACC this season for the 800m, and she has already regionally qualified in the event. Blackmon looks to medal this weekend. Julia Lucas headlines a strong group of distance runners competing in the 1,500m at the ACC Championships. Lucas and Magin Kebert have already met the regional qualifying time and are expected to score in this race. Chris Kollar is shooting for a regional qualifying time in the men's 1,500m and hopes to earn his team points as well.
Lucas will also be running the 5,000m at the ACC Championships and will contend for the title. She has the top time in the league this season, regionally qualifying last week in California and her greatest competition might be her teammate, Renee Gunning. Making her outdoor debut, Gunning is scheduled to run both the 5,000m and the 10,000m in her first meet since finishing 13th in the 5,000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Kristina Roth also looks to score in the 5,000m this weekend, as she already has qualified for regionals as well.
Wesley Smith has his sights set on the medal stand in the men's 5,000m. He has regionally qualified in the event, but he will be pushed this weekend by John Crews, Chris Kollar, John Henderson, Bryce Ruiz and his older brother, Andy. Crews and Patrick Chessar will also be running the 10,000m.
Laila Thomas and Mattie Bethea both could score points in the women's high jump and will also be competing in the heptathlon. Michael Hill will compete in the high jump for the men. Hill will also compete in the long jump and should score in the triple jump for the Wolfpack. Dexter Adams has the sixth-best mark in the ACC this season for the long jump and aims to not only score in the event, but to qualify for regionals. He will have some competition from teammates A.J. Davis and Manny Lawson who have rejoined the track & field squad now that spring football is finished.
Kelly Smoke and Brie Ward will compete in the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw for the NC State women's team, while Mitchell Pope and Chris Crawford will do the same three events on the men's side. Pope has regionally qualified in the shot put and is looking to score points in all three events. He will also compete in the javelin throw.
NC State has won seven ACC Championships in men's outdoor track & field, with the last time being 1996. The highest women's finish for the Wolfpack is second, which has happened in 1985 and again in 1986. Last year in Chapel Hill, N.C., the women took fourth place and the men finished fifth. For more information on the 2005 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including the schedule of events, parking information, results, history and records, visit both www.seminoles.com and www.theacc.com.
