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Cal women, Tennessee men take titles at Cal Invitational

Daily Planet Wire Services
Monday March 25, 2002

The California women’s track and field team opened its home season by winning the Cal Invitational with 179 points Saturday at Edwards Stadium. Top-ranked Tennessee easily won the men’s competition with 227.5 points. The Golden Bear men placed fourth with 102.  

Washington placed second in both the men’s (139 points) and women’s (139.5) team races.  

The Bear women had an outstanding meet, posting numerous PRs and winning eight events. It began with a victory from senior All-American Jennifer Joyce in the hammer throw (204-1) yesterday and concluded with seven wins today. Freshman Trinety White was a double winner for Cal, taking the long jump with a PR of 18-10 and the triple jump (39-10). The discus was a strong event for Cal, as junior Sheni Russell and Joyce finished first (172-0) and second (164-7), respectively, with personal best and NCAA provisional qualifying marks. Russell’s previous best in the discus was 157-3, while Joyce’s was 161-11.  

Other Bear victories came from junior Leora Ward in the pole vault (PR: 12-5.5), senior Marielle Schlueter in the 3000mSC (10:45.40) and senior Lauren Dudugjian in the high jump (5-7). Dudugjian cleared a season-best of 5-8.75 in the jump off for first. Senior Erin Belger propelled Cal to first in the 4x400m Relay. The Bears were in third as Belger took the final baton exchange, but she zoomed into the lead by the final straight-away.  

Tennessee came to Berkeley fresh off its 2002 NCAA Indoor title and as the reigning 2001 NCAA Outdoor champion, as well. The Volunteers were most impressive in the sprints today, winning the 100, 200, 400, 110mH and 400mH. In fact, they swept the top three spots in the 100m and 110mH. Karl Jennings won both hurdle events.  

The Cal men continued to compete shorthanded, as a number of their top athletes did not compete due to injuries. Senior Corey Creasey was the only Bear to win an event. He hung on to defeat Washington’s Andy Fader in the 5000m - 14:40.24 to 14:41.38.  

Senior Bubba McLean cleared an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 17-2.75 to finish second in the pole vault. Also finishing second were sophomore Amin Nikfar in the shot put with a season-best heave of 54-7.5 and redshirt freshman David Glasgow in the high jump (6-6.75).  

Up next for the Bears is the Cal Multi-Event Meet, March 27-28, at Edwards Stadium.