The NCAA News - News and Features

June 1, 1998

Christopher Newport uses only six competitors to nab record sixth title

Christopher Newport's women's track team is doing its best to abolish the adage that the teams with more athletes have a better chance of winning.

Proving that more does not necessarily equal better, Christopher Newport used only six competitors to compile 69 points and win a record sixth title May 21-23 at Macalester.

The performance halted Wisconsin-Oshkosh's three-year reign and gave the Captains a sweep of the track titles. Christopher Newport also won the 1998 indoor title, getting points from only five competitors.

Wheaton (Massachusetts) earned a team-best second-place showing with 50 points, while Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Wisconsin-La Crosse placed third and fourth, respectively. Buena Vista and Loras each recorded their best finishes ever, tying for fifth place.

Christopher Newport's path to title No. 6 was paved by Bridget Cochran, Leema Madden and Jenita Harris, each of whom claimed individual-event titles. Cochran won the 100-meter high hurdles, Madden took the 100-meter dash and Harris won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles.

Cochran's championship in the 100 hurdles was record-setting and historic. Her record time of 13.60 seconds earned her a third straight title and made her the first Division III women's athlete and third NCAA competitor to win three consecutive 100 hurdles crowns. Gillian Russell of Miami (Florida) (1993-95) and Delloreen Ennis of Abilene Christian (1996-98) are the others.

Cochran added her name to the records book a second time, teaming with Meshailay Robinson, Denita Eason and Madden to win the 400-meter relay in 46.20 seconds. The time shattered the record of 46.44 set by the Captains' quartet of Michelle Dickens, Sandy Shelton, Sheila Trice and Lisa Dillard in 1987.

Madden successfully defended her championship in the 100, joining Trice (1987-89) as the only competitors to accomplish the feat.

Harris earned her first individual title by winning the 400 hurdles. She also placed eighth in the 100 hurdles.

The Captains also received strong outings from Eason and Casey Taylor.

Eason, who ran on both the 400 and 1,600 relays, garnered six points for a third-place finish in the 200-meter dash and five points for finishing fourth in the 100.

Taylor compiled nine points, placing fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump.

Monique Hacker of Binghamton turned in the championships' third record performance, winning the triple jump for a third consecutive time with a mark of 12.66 meters (41 feet, 6 1/2 inches). Hacker, Eleena Zhelezov of Brandeis (1992-95) and Vera Stenhouse of Tufts (1989-91) are the only competitors to win the event since 1989.

Cortland State's Michele Franklin added to the list of firsts, capturing the 3,000- and 10,000-meter runs. Franklin is the first competitor in NCAA women's championships history to sweep the 3,000 and 10,000.

Deshawnda Willams of Wheaton (Massachusetts) led a parade of competitors who claimed their school's first individual titles.

Williams won the 200-meter dash and followed that performance by teaming with Angela Mullins, Amy Swanson and Colleen Myrie to guide the Lyons to the 1,600-meter relay crown.

Janee Shaner of Susquehanna (javelin throw), Wartburg's Trina Steines (800-meter run), Emily Richard of Washington (Missouri) (5,000-meter run) and Mount Holyoke's Amanda Salb (shot put) won their school's first women's individual titles in any sport.

Heather O'Brien of Colorado College (heptathlon), St. Olaf's Jayna Mathieu (1,500-meter run) and Hartwick's Maria Megnin (high jump) captured their school's first outdoor track championships.