Athletes of the Week March through April 18

4/18/00

 

Jim DeMarco (so), of Green Ohio moved his personal record up this weekend by clearing 16'5" at the Seas Ray Relays. He just missed the school record by a half inch. DeMarco had been struggling as of late outdoors. In two weeks the vaulters were unable to get in any vaulting practices because of the weather and with all the equipment moved outdoors. They had been relying mostly on drills and hard physical training. For his performance in overcoming practice opportunities and getting a personal record Jim DeMarco has been named this week's male "Athlete of the Week".

Jessie Sheeran (jr) Fostoria Ohio, moved up to an elite level this weekend when she won the shot put at the Sea Ray Relays. She threw 51' 7.25" which is currently ranked 9th in the nation. Her throw was over three and half feet further than her old school record this Spring of 47"11," and six feet further than her best outdoor throw last year of 46' 8". Indoors, this year, Sheeran threw 51 feet. For her perfromacne, improvement and outright win at Sea Ray Relays Jessie Sheeran is this week's female "Athlete of the Week".

4/11/00

Steve O'Bryan (jr) and Christi Smith (sr) are this week's Zip Track and Field Athletes of the Week after their performances in the South this last week. Christi Smith broke the MAC and school record along with recording the top performance in the country with her score in the heptathlon at the Texas Relays April 6. She scored 5932 over 200 points better than the second best performance in the NCAA. Not to rest on her laurels Smith also broke the school record and provisionally qualified in the long jump twice. She went 20'4 3/4 in the heptathlon on Thursday April 6 and came back on Friday April 7 to go 20'5 3/4". Smith has swept all the major weekly awards for these performances including National Trackwire Female Athlete of the Week Honors.

Steve O'Bryan had an outstanding performance in the 800 at the Duke Invite Saturday April 8. He ran 1:53.21. He won his heat by more than 35 meters and set a new personal record in the event. O'Bryan has been very dedicated to his training and his work ethic is showing. The week earlier he competed in the 1500, 800 and the high jump scoring well in all three. For his efforts at Duke and his example of hard work O'Bryan strongly earned this week's "Athlete of the Week "honors.

4/4/00

Brandon Howard (fr) and LaTrese Taylor (sr) were named this week's Zip Track and Field Athletes of the Week for their efforts at the April 1 USTCA Akron Quad Meet. Teams featured in the meet were Youngstown State, Ashland and Robert Morris. Brandon Howard was part of two winning performances. He won the long jump at 23-8 and he ran 3rd leg on the winning 4 x 100 relay team. LaTrese Taylor continued her tear on the track this season breaking a school record in the 100 meters at 11.57, winning the 200 meters, and helping the Zips to victory in the 4 x 100 and 2nd in the 4 x 400.

LeShaunte Edwards and Jessie Sheeran

3/28/00

LeShaunte Edwards and Jessie Sheeran were named this week's "Athletes of the Week" after their performances at University of North Carolina USTCA Meet March 25. Edwards was part of three winning performances. He won the 100, 200, and ran lead off on the first place 4 x 100 relay team. Jessie Sheeran was struggling in the shot put. She had just thrown the hammer taking second place. After fouling her first two throws and trailing in the competition until the last throw, Sheeran came through on her last throw to win. Her throw was a school record at 47-11.25.

 

3/15/00

LaTrese Taylor (left) and LeShaunte Edwards (right) both pictured above breaking the school record in the 200 at the NCAA Championships at University of Arkansas. Taylor went 23.94 to break the old record held for a week by Jasmine Reynolds at 24.06. Edwards ran 21.15 breaking his previous record by .05 set at the MAC Indoor Championships two weeks earlier. Both Edwards and Taylor took on a tough field at the NCAA Championships but rose to the occasion to break school records and personal records. Their performances earned them this week's "Athlete of the Week Honors".

3/7/00

At the MAC Indoor Championships Michelle Rizzo suffered a major disappointment when she found, after sprinting to an apparent win in the 5000, that the officials had made a mistake by firing the gun and advancing the lap counter prematurely. By the time she was informed of the mistake it was too late and she was unable catch up to what became the official winner. This was a tough loss for the sophomore. However, at Notre Dame the following week she showed that after falling to a disappointing controversial defeat that she can get right back up. She ran a school record and provisional national qualifying time of 16:47.14 in the 5000 on the Irish track. She also ended up winning the race decisively by over 3.5 seconds to the previous week's MAC champion in the race. For Rizzo's tough return and excellent performance last weekend she was named this week's track "Athlete of the Week".