TRACK: Brown victorious at College Park
Sophomore qualifies for IC4A's 200-meter race with time
Katie Bollinger
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Sports
This weekend the men's and women's track and field teams participated in the University of Maryland Invitational, both posting impressive finishes. The men finished in third place at the meet while the women's team placed fourth.
On the men's side, Chad Brown helped pace the team with individual victories in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. In the 100, Brown finished with a time of 10.77 seconds, a narrow .09 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. In the 200, he finished with a time of 21.71, which also qualified him for the IC4A's.
"When the races are close the hardest part is running my own race. I have to know where the closest competitors are, but at the same time I have to concentrate on my form and not get tense and choppy," Brown stated by e-mail.
Other notable finishes from the Mountaineer men included Joe Orsulak who finished fifth in the 800-meter run, Gigi Gibilisco who finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles, and John Fernandez who finished fifth in shot put.
The women's team was paced by both team and individual efforts. The 4X100-meter relay team had an impressive showing, placing first with a time of 47.49 seconds. Members of the team were Sara Brown, Ashlyn DeCruise, Sheena Simpkins and Ashley DeCruise. The women finished just .08 seconds ahead of their second place competitors.
"We give each other confidence, saying 'we can do this, just run fast'," Simpkins stated by e-mail.
Individually, Ashlyn DeCruise placed second in the finals of the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.07 seconds, despite finishing first in her preliminary race with a time of 11.89 seconds.
During a race, many things seem to be running through Ashlyn DeCruise's mind, but watching her on the track, it is clear that she is focused on one thing.
"I'm just thinking what I need to do to secure the win or get a good time. Do I need to fix my form, or kick it into gear?… If it's a close or competitive race I'm basically like trying figure out how to win," Ashlyn DeCruise stated by e-mail.
Her sister Ashley finished in similar fashion, placing second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.26, only .05 behind the first place finisher.
Fellow 4X100 sprinter, Simpkins, earned an individual second place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.04.
"When I'm running I think about staying relaxed but fast, I try not to tense up. Once the gun goes off it all goes away, and all I think about is my time and either staying ahead or walking someone down," Simpkins stated by e-mail.
Field competitors Dana Collins finished third in the pole vault with a height of 3.20-meters and Sarah Klemic finished fourth in the hammer throw with a distance of 44.30-meters.
On the men's side, Chad Brown helped pace the team with individual victories in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. In the 100, Brown finished with a time of 10.77 seconds, a narrow .09 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. In the 200, he finished with a time of 21.71, which also qualified him for the IC4A's.
"When the races are close the hardest part is running my own race. I have to know where the closest competitors are, but at the same time I have to concentrate on my form and not get tense and choppy," Brown stated by e-mail.
Other notable finishes from the Mountaineer men included Joe Orsulak who finished fifth in the 800-meter run, Gigi Gibilisco who finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles, and John Fernandez who finished fifth in shot put.
The women's team was paced by both team and individual efforts. The 4X100-meter relay team had an impressive showing, placing first with a time of 47.49 seconds. Members of the team were Sara Brown, Ashlyn DeCruise, Sheena Simpkins and Ashley DeCruise. The women finished just .08 seconds ahead of their second place competitors.
"We give each other confidence, saying 'we can do this, just run fast'," Simpkins stated by e-mail.
Individually, Ashlyn DeCruise placed second in the finals of the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.07 seconds, despite finishing first in her preliminary race with a time of 11.89 seconds.
During a race, many things seem to be running through Ashlyn DeCruise's mind, but watching her on the track, it is clear that she is focused on one thing.
"I'm just thinking what I need to do to secure the win or get a good time. Do I need to fix my form, or kick it into gear?… If it's a close or competitive race I'm basically like trying figure out how to win," Ashlyn DeCruise stated by e-mail.
Her sister Ashley finished in similar fashion, placing second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.26, only .05 behind the first place finisher.
Fellow 4X100 sprinter, Simpkins, earned an individual second place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.04.
"When I'm running I think about staying relaxed but fast, I try not to tense up. Once the gun goes off it all goes away, and all I think about is my time and either staying ahead or walking someone down," Simpkins stated by e-mail.
Field competitors Dana Collins finished third in the pole vault with a height of 3.20-meters and Sarah Klemic finished fourth in the hammer throw with a distance of 44.30-meters.
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