The NCAA News - News and Features

May 18, 1998

Division III Women's Outdoor Track

Christopher Newport goes for sweep

Event: 1998 Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Overview: It's been three years since Christopher Newport ended the outdoor track and field season as the nation's top team. The Captains are seeking to conclude the 1998 outdoor season as they did the indoor season: No. 1. Christopher Newport certainly has the talent to complete the championships sweep. The Captains boast what arguably is the division's strongest sprints corps, which includes defending 100-meter dash champion Leema Madden and two-time 100-meter high hurdles champion Bridget Cochran, who, as of May 5, posted the nation's top qualifying marks in the 100-meter high and 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Cochran is vying to become the first competitor to win three consecutive 100-meter high hurdles titles. Joining Madden and Cochran will be Denita Eason (200- and 400-meter dashes and long jump) and Jenita Harris (100-meter high and 400-meter intermediate hurdles). The Captains will also look for points in the relays, where Cochran, Eason, Tamika Lomax and Madden registered the top mark in the 400 relay; and Cochran, Eason, Madden and Fanetta Malin recorded the top qualifying time in the 1,600 relay .... Wisconsin-La Crosse, which finished runner-up to three-time defending champion Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1997, has its sights set on its first title in 13 years. The Eagles showcase the top hammer-throw qualifier in Patti Franckowiak, along with Shamaine Martin (800-meter run), Jenni Rider (shot put) and the 1,600 relay team of Martin, Katie O'Leary, Jenni Porter, and Lace Van Zeeland. Martin, Porter and Van Zeeland guided the Eagles to the 1997 event title .... Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which has won five titles and placed second three times in the past nine championships, seeks an unprecedented fourth straight title. The Titans will place their title hopes behind Mary Bunker (heptathlon), Kenya Moore (triple jump), Tiffany Ebensperger (5,000-meter run) and Rachel Milligan, who posted the top qualifying marks in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs.

Field: The Division III Championships Committee has approved a qualifying procedure that allows for a maximum of 331 student-athletes.

Dates and site: May 21-23 at Macalester College.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1425 for dates/site/schedule, 5316 for qualifiers, 5317 for first-day results, 5318 for second-day results, 5319 for third-day results and 5321 for finals results only. Championships results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Results will be published in the June 1 issue of The NCAA News.