Wednesday, March 8, 2000

Vaulting Toward National Crowns
Garner expects to break mark as ACU tries to sweep again
By MICHAEL WILSON
Staff Writer

Meredith Garner has been a track fanatic for quite some time, but the Abilene Christian University star is faced with a situation even she couldn’t have anticipated.

Garner will be heading to Boston to compete in this weekend’s NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, but being the favorite in the pole vault and the country’s only automatic qualifier isn’t what seems so surreal.

Just nine months ago Garner was a member of the Harding University track team and had never even competed in the pole vault before. Now, with only four meets under her belt, Garner is expected to shatter the Division II indoor record of 12-3.

“I would never have thought I would be in this position,” said Garner, who has already vaulted 13-0 this year. “I went to a vault camp last July and didn’t even start vaulting until last August. I just can’t believe I made it this far.”

Garner wanted to go to ACU as a freshman, but ended up at Harding thinking she would have a better chance of having an immediate impact. But when Harding was faced with the prospect of closing the track program, Garner was forced to pick an event she could make nationals in. Enter the pole vault, and after finding immediate success last summer and a practice partner to boot, Garner decided to come to ACU.

“I didn’t want to be a pioneer or anything, I just wanted to have someone to practice with,” said Garner, who will be joined in the pole vault by fellow Wildcat Jane McNeil, who owns the national indoor record of 12-3. “I wanted to be here as a freshman, but ACU had such high standards that I wasn’t sure I would be able to help.”

Abilene Christian will be looking to uphold those very standards this weekend, as both the men’s and women’s teams are defending national champions. Last year was just the second time in history that any school has won both the men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor titles in the same year — and both times it has been ACU.

Track coach Jon Murray said the rich tradition ACU has established should provide extra motivation for the Wildcats this weekend.

“It’s more of a pride deal than anything else,” Murray said. “These athletes know that it has been done before by ACU, and it can be done again. It gives them some confidence.”

Shawntel Newhouse will be competing in the 55 hurdles, and is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. She will be saddled with the unenviable task of following in the rather large shadow of former ACU standout Delloreen Ennis-London, who graduated last year. Ennis-London never lost in the 55 hurdles, winning the last four indoor titles.

Newhouse’s twin sister Dawnyel will also be making the trip to compete in the long jump and triple jump.

The men’s team will send 10 different athletes to defend its 1999 championship. John Kemboi and Gilbert Tuhabonye will both be competing in the 800 and 1,600 meters, while Alfred Rugema has qualified for the 1,600 and the 5,000 run.

Terrance Woods will take on the unusual pairing of the high jump and triple jump.

“We have our work cut out for us, there is no question,” Murray said. “Terrance has really been jumping well during indoors, and he is just a great athlete.”

Michael Wilson can be reached at 676-6773 or wilsonjm@abinews.com.

ACU men’s qualifiers

Nick Alexander, 55 dash and 1,600 relay; Oscar Meneses, 55; John Kemboi, 800 and 1,600; Gilbert Tuhabonye, 800 and 1,600; Alfred Rugema, 1,600 and 5,000; Shaka Huggins, 55 hurdles, Jason Prann, 1,600 relay; Marcus Mars, 1,600 relay; Julieon Raeburn, 1,600 relay; Terrance Woods, high jump and triple jump

ACU women’s qualifiers

Shawntel Newhouse, 55 hurdles; Marissa Cadienhead, high jump; Meredith Garner, pole vault; Jane McNeil, pole vault; Dawnyel Newhouse, long jump and triple jump; Hillerie Smith, triple jump; Geraldine George, shot put