Friday, April 7, 2000

Mistake costs ACU runner
Menjo comes up 1 lap short in 10,000 meters
By Bill Hart
Special to the Reporter-News

AUSTIN — Barnabas Menjo ran 24 laps Thursday at the Texas Relays and went from fourth place to no place in the 10,000 meters.

The Abilene Christian University senior and four other runners came up a lap short and were disqualified. Mike Njenga, running unattached, had more than a lap lead on the field, but Paul Kemei of Southern Mississippi started his kick with about 150 meters to go, thinking he was also on his last lap. The others followed suit.

“When I went by the finish line, there was a 1 (on the lap count), so I started my kick,” Kemei said.

The officials, realizing the mistake, told the other runners behind the top five that they still had a lap to go.

“I didn’t know what was going on, and I knew I was behind those guys (who had stopped), so I stopped,’’ Menjo said. “I never saw the numbers (lap count). It is frustrating to run that far and ... (then be short),’’

ACU coach Jon Murray said Menjo would not have run a time to meet NCAA Division II qualifying standards, but he was not happy over the situation.

“It was too hot and windy to run well here today,’’ Murray said. “But still....”

But three hurdlers from the Big Country ran their way into Saturday’s finals.

Former Cooper standout Michael Smith, who had always thought the 400-meter hurdles would be his race in college, continues to prove himself right.

The sophomore at Baylor University put in a time of 50.58 seconds during the preliminaries of the university division, the third best time of the day and only a ¤ -second off his personal best.

Jason Prann of Abilene Christian University easily posted the best qualifying time in the college division 400-meter hurdles (52.46), and will be joined in Saturday’s finals by teammate Nick Gaffney, whose 54.94 was the fifth best time.

Smith’s time, good for this early in the season, didn’t come easily as he continues to suffer from an injury (right Achilles’ tendon) suffered in the first indoor meet this past season.

“It started hurting after I got over the second hurdle, but I decided I would just tough it out,’’ he said while sitting in the stands and looking at the heel wrapped in ice. “I had run my personal best in the high hurdles (14.04) at our Dr. Pepper meet two weeks ago, but I didn’t run last week, resting my foot.

“I’m focusing on 48.6 (in the 400 hurdles) because that would get my expenses paid to the Olympic Trials later this summer,’’ Smith said. “I qualified last year with my 50.1, but I know I can do better.

“I hope I will be able to run on our mile relay team Saturday because I feel we will run under three minutes. We have the horses to do it.’’

Prann, who had looked sharp in his first two meets this year, had his problems, although he won his heat by almost two seconds.

“I don’t know why, but I have never run well down here,’’ the senior from Odessa Permian said. “I just felt drained before the race started and I could see all the runners ahead of me after the first hurdle. I hit hurdles today and I hadn’t done that in the first two meets and I had trouble getting with my trail leg. Then I got conservative at the end.

“But I am running more relaxed because I am in better shape. Also, I have more confidence now and I am more concerned about my times. I had rather be last in a race and run a good time than win with a slow time.’’

Trafton Rodgers, the former NCAA Division II champion from ACU competing unattached, met distaster in the decathlon. He was leading going into the eighth event, the pole vault, but he no-heighted for no points. Rodgers had taken a 5,957-5,780 lead over Ricky Barker going into the pole vault after he had run the high hurdles in 14.06 and had thrown the discus 157-3.

He went into the pole vault competition at 15 feet, a foot under his best ever, but missed all three jumps and no-heighted. He did throw the javelin 182-6 and ran the 1,000-meter race in 5:31.23 and finished fifth with 7,022 points. Barker won with 7,903 points.

The Relays pick up momentum today with preliminaries for the collegians this morning and the high schoolers, including a large contingent from the Big Country this afternoon.

Thursday’s results

AUSTIN (AP)— Results Thursday from the Texas Relays at the University of Texas at Austin:

Men

DECATHLON

110-meter hurdles — 1. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 14.06 seconds. 2. Ryan Harlin, Rice, 14.38. 3. Trafton Rodgers, Unattached, 14.6. 4. Ricky Barker, Asics, 14.64. 5. Kenny Edwards, Northern Iowa, 14.94. 6. Billy Pappas, Oregon, 14.96. 7. Santiago Lorenzo, Oregon, 15.12. 8. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 15.15. 9. Sam Longiria, Southwest Texas, 15.23. 10. Jake Boone, Texas A&M, 15.29. 11. Grant Dennis, Missouri-Kansas City, 15.80. 12. Rick Halberg, Texas, 15.93. 13. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 16.28. 14. Durdam Rocherolle, Goldwin, 16.38.

1.500-meters — 1. Santiago Lorenzo, Oregon, 4:43.50. 2. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 4:47.11. 3. Rick Halberg, Texas, 4:47.27. 4. Grant Dennis, Missouri-Kansas City, 4:47.75. 5. Jake Boone, Texas A&M, 4:52.92. 6. Durdam Rocherolle, Goldwin, 4:54.19. 7. Kenny Edwards, Norhtern Iowa, 4:54.22. 8. Billy Pappas, Oregon, 4:55.23. 9. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 4:58.47. 10. Ricky Barker, Asics, 5:05.82. 11. Ryan Harlan, Rice, 5:19.92. 12. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 5:20.37. 13. Traton Rodgers, Unattached, 5:31.23.

Discus — 1. Trafton Rodgers, Unattached, 157 feet, 3 inches. 2. Ricky Barker, Asics, 138-5. 3. Santiago Lorenzo, Oregon, 132-3. 4. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 127-11. 5. Jake Boone, Texas A&M, 127-11. 6. Billy Pappas, Oregon, 127-9. 7. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 127-7. 8. Grant Dennis, Missouri-Kansas City, 116-11. 9. Durdam Rocherolle, Goldwin, 113-2. 10. Rick Halberg, Texas, 109-8. 11. Sam Longoria, Southwest Texas, 107-9. 12. Ryan Harlin, Rice, 106-7. 13. Kenny Edwards, Northern Iowa, 103-3. 14. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 75-6.

Pole Vault — 1. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 16-43/8. 2. Ricky Barker, Asics, 16-03/8. 3. Jake Boone, Texas A&M, 15-5. 4. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 15-1. 5. Rick Halberg, Texas, 14-51/4. 6. Santiago Lorenzo, Oregon, 14-11/4. 7. Grant Dennis, Missouri-Kansas City, 13-51/4. 7. Sam Longiria, Southwest Texas, 13-51/4. 9. Durdam Rochelle, Goldwin, 13-1. 10. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 11-93/8. 11. Kenny Edwards, Northern Iowa, 11-53/8. 12. Ryan Harlin, Rice, 10-2.

Javelin —1. Santiago Lorenzo, Oregon, 202-5. 2. Durdam Rocherolle, Goldwin, 193-4. 3. Ricky Barker, Ascis, 192. 4. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 190. 5. Billy Pappas, Oregon, 184. 6. Trafton Rodgers, Unattached, 182-6. 7. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 197-1. 8. Kenny Edwards, Norhtern Iowa, 167-6. 9. Jake Boone, Texas A&M. 10. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 155-3. 11. Ryan Harlin, Rice, 154. 12. Grant Daniels, Missouri-Kansas City, 143-11. 13. Rick Halberg, Texas, 139-3. 14. Sam Longoria, Southwest Texas, 116-10.

Final standings

1. Ricky Barker, Ascis, 7.903 points. 2. Ross Bomben, Unattached, 7.608. 3. Santiago Lorenzo, 7.580. 4. John Bloom, Texas A&M, 7.131. 5. Trafton Rodgers, Unattached, 7.022. 6. Kenny Edwards, Northern Iowa, 6.949. 7. Jake Boone, 6.897. 8. Ryan Harlin, Rice, 6.891. 9. Rick Halberg, Rice, 6.898. 10. Oregon, Billy Pappas, 6.547. 11. Grant Dennis, Missouri-Kansas City. 12. Durdam Rocherolle, Goldwin, 6.215. 13. Daniel Hunter, Mississippi State, 6.076. 14. Sam Longoria, Southwest Texas, 5.805.

3,200-meter relay —1. Kentucky (Thomas Morgan, Hunter Spencer, Chadwick Johnson, Jeff Limpert) 7:28.35. 2. Texas, 7:29.67. 3. Tulsa, 7:29.82. 4. Arkansas, 7:31.71. 5. Baylor, 7:33.45. 6. Southern Methodist, 7:36.57.

10,000-meters —1. Mike Njenga, Unattached, 29:40.06. 2. Adrian Martinez, Texas Christian, 32:12. 3. Kevin Smelley, Nicholls State, 32:16.06. 4. Jesse Williams, Texas Tech, 32:31.50. 5. Ryan McGarry, Southern Methodist, 32:32.35. 6. Ryan Cruz, Texas Tech, 32:40.84.

Hammer throw —1. Libor Charfreitag, 246-6. 2. Javier Nieto, Louisiana State, 211-7. 3. Matt Kavanaugh, Kentucky, 207-10. 4. Jon Cook, Wichita State, 197-4. 5. Chris Spurrier, Purdue, 194-9. 6. Scott Russell, Kansas, 193-11.

Women

HEPTATHLON

800 Meter Run — 1. Ifoma Jones, Houston, 2:16.77 seconds. 2. Christi Smith, Akron, 2:17.04. 3. Kelly Blair, Unattached, 2:17.25. 4. Martha Brennan, Unattached, 2:21.75. 5. Kathrine Nielsen, Illinois State, 2:23.14. 6. Susie Jones, Bearkat TC, 2:23.91. 7. Mellanee Welty, Wichita State, 2:25.78. 8. Erica Fryar, Texas, 2:29.03. 9. Brianna Bassler, Houston, 2:29.70. 10. Robin McClain, Florida A&M, 2:31.31. 11 , Chigozie Chuku, Houston, 2:32.05. 12. Annalee Walcott, Brigham Young University, 2:33.62. 13. Elisha Williams, Mississippi State, 2:43.17. 14. Millicent Sylvan , Alcorn State, 2:50.45.

Long Jump —1. Kelly Blair, Unattached, 20-51/2. 2. Christi Smith, 20-43/8. 3. Millicent Sylvan, Alcorn State, 19-73/8. 4. Elisha Williams, Mississippi State, 19-51/2. 5. Ifoma Jones, Houston, 19-33/8. 6. Mellanee Welty, Wichita State, 18-10. 7. Susie Jones, Bearkat TC, 18-81/4. 8. Brianna Bassler, Houston, 18-71/2. 9. Erica Fryar, Texas, 18-51/2. 10. Kathrine Nielsen, Illinois State, 18-51/4. 11. Annalee Walcott, Brigham Young, 18-31/4. 12. Robin McClain, Florida A&M, 18-31/4. 13. Kerry O’Bric, Baylor, 17-81/4. 14. Martha Brennan, Unattached, 17-53/8. 15. Chigozie Chuku, Houston, 16-111/2.

Javelin — 1. Kelly Blair, Unattached, 147-9. 2. Annalee Walcott, Brigham Young, 134-5. 3. Christi Smith, Akron, 128-11. 4. Martha Brennan, Unattached, 125-4. 5. Kathrine Nielsen, Illinois State, 120-4. 6. Ifoma Jones, Houston, 119. 7. Kerry O’Bric, Baylor, 118-6. 8. Mellanee Welty, Wichita State, 114-2.00. 9. Elisha Williams, Mississippi State, 113. 10. Chigozie Chuku, Houston, 106. 11. Susie Jones, Bearkat TC, 103-10. 12. Millicent Sylvan, Alcorn State, 101-9. 13. Erica Fryar, Texas, 98-6. 14. Brianna Bassler, Houston, 93-8. 15. Robin McClain, Florida A&M, 84-10.

Final standings

1. Kelly Blair, Unattached, 6.217 points. 2. Christie Smith, Akron, 5.932. 3. Ifoma Jones, Houston, 5.726. 4. Martha Brennan, Unattached, 5.423. 5. Katherine Nielsen, Illinois State, 5.304. 6. Mellanee Welty, Wichita State, 5.235. 7. Annalee Walcott, Brigham Young, 5.131. 8. Millicent Sylvan, Alcorn State, 5.073. 9. Susie Jones, Bearkat TC, 4.945. 10. Erica Fryar, Texas, 4.818. 11. Robin McClain, Florida A&M, 4.786. 12. Elisha Williams, Mississippi State, 4.778. 13. Brianna Bassler, Houston, 4.681. 14. Chigozie Chuku, Houston, 4.666.

3,000 meters—1. Karin Ernstrom, Baylor, 9:44.55. 2. Hanna Lyngstad, Tulane, 9:46. 35. Sita Waru, McNeese State, 9:48.58. 4. Anna Gullingsrud, Missouri, 9:55.75. Suzanna Strunz, Louisiana State, 10:02.09. 6. Rebecca Johansson, Texas-Arlington, 10:02.46.

3200-meter relay—1. Miami (Dankia Dodds, Saraque Whittaker, Patricia Pearson, Natalie Watson) 8:38.31. 2. Missouri, 8:46.26. 3. Arkansas, 8:47.66. 4. Texas, 9:03.51. 5. Oklahoma, 9:09.53. 6. Tulsa, 9:12.26.

10,000-meters — 1. Araceli Davila, Okalhoma State, 38:00.33. 2. Karen Rogers, Northwestern, 38:15.34. 3. Carissa Rutland, Stephen F. Austin, 38:19.60. 4. Samantha Dompier, Texas, 38:43.66. 5. Kacey Warrick-Phillips, Unattached, 38:48.59. 6. Laruen Crawford, Texas A&M, 39:51.49.

Hammer Throw — 1. Florence Ezeh, Southern Methodist, 212-5. 2. Nancy Guillen, Southern Menthodist, 203-11. 3. Meshell Trotter, Texas A&M, 195-2. 4. Julianna Tujda, Southern Methodist, 185-11. 5. Lori Williams, Bowling Green, 172-8. 6. Heather White, Missouri, 172-7.