Women's Track Opens Outdoor Season With Convincing Win

March 29, 2003

CARBONDALE, ILL. - The Central Michigan University women's track team made an explosive start to the outdoor track season by blowing away the competition at the Saluki Spring Classic on Saturday afternoon.

The Chippewas took first in seven individual events on their way to scoring 226.5 points. The closest competitor was Illinois State with 137.5 points followed by host Southern Illinois with 121.5 and Eastern Illinois with110.5.

The most exciting performance for CMU was turned in by freshman Jackie Smart in the triple jump. She scored a first-place performance with a mark of 40-11 ?. The mark broke a 13-year-old school record and was good enough to qualify her for the NCAA regional meet on May 30.

Fellow freshman Kari Taylor led the Chippewas with 20 points. She took first in the discus (136), third in the hammer throw (141-9), and second in the shot put (41-2 ?)

Other CMU athletes taking first were: LaQuesha Wiley in the long jump (19-2 ?); Amanda Storck in the pole vault (11-1 ?); Tasha Reynolds in the javelin (136-7); Karen LeRoy in the steeplechase (11:43.83); and the 4x100m relay team (48.40).

The Chippewas return to action on Saturday, April 5, when they travel to Notre Dame to compete in the Notre Dame Invitational.