TRACK AND FIELD Derrickson Sets GU Record, Hoyas Get Qualifying Times By Scott Homa Hoya Staff Writer

Tim Llewellyn/The Hoya Senior Tyrona Heath races at GMU. She qualified provisionally for the NCAAs as a member of the 4x400m relay team.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The signs plastered in the doorway of the George Mason Field House said that Michigan star Alan Webb (South Lakes/Reston, Va.) would not be competing, but Georgetown showed up last Saturday at the Holiday Inn Fair Oaks Patriot Games ready to fight.

Led by freshman Erica Derrickson’s record-setting performance in the pole vault and a balanced attack in the sprints, distance and field events, the Hoyas provided more than enough excitement to make up for Webb’s absence.

Derrickson, coming off a pair of hamstring and shin injuries suffered last semester, wasted no time rewriting the school’s record book, clearing 3.43m in the pole vault to claim Georgetown’s all-time highest mark.

“Entering the season, we didn’t have much strength in the women’s field events,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Ron Helmer said. “Erica adds a new dimension to our team, and it’s a great thing that she has been able to come in and make a contribution in that area.”

Associate Head Coach Andrew Valmon also praised Derrickson’s performance.

“It was awesome,” Valmon said. “We talked about it and knew that we needed support in the field events to be a well-rounded program, and for a freshman to come in and lead the charge is incredible.”

On the men’s side of the field events, senior Josh Rollins posted an NCAA provisionally qualifying mark in the triple jump, leaping 15.69m to take first place and secure a spot on the national qualifiers list.

“We decided we would use this meet as a workout and focus on some technique issues,” Rollins said. “It ended up as an improvement from the last time I jumped, and I was pleased to get the qualifying mark, but I’m in a position right now where I expect those kind of results out of myself.”

The provisional qualification now potentially makes Rollins eligible to compete in both the long jump and triple jump at nationals. Last spring Rollins took sixth in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn All American honors, and swept the triple jump, long jump and high jump at the Big East Championships.

“Josh has come a long way,” Valmon said. “He got where he is today through hard work and he’s on target to have another great year.”

On the track, sophomore Monica Hargrove continued her stellar season, running a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team and also taking first individually in the 400m run. Hargrove timed 54.85 seconds in the 400m run and less than 90 minutes later combined with senior Tyrona Heath and juniors Janelle Billingslea and Jamillah Bowman to edge George Mason for victory in the 4×400. Both performances earned NCAA provisional qualifications, and Hargrove’s mark in the 400m run currently stands as the sixth fastest time in school history.

“It wasn’t one of my expectations to come in today and run a qualifying time, but I just keep improving every meet,” Hargrove said. “I’m beginning to realize what I’m capable of doing, although sometimes I surprise myself.”

“Monica has been the rock of the group,” Helmer said. “She comes in and competes hard every weekend, and has been running with a lot of confidence.”

Graduate student Heather Blackard collected another winning time for the Hoyas, crossing the line of the 800m run in 2:09.16. Junior Jill Laurendeau (2:09.59) and sophomore Treniere Clement (2:09.98) followed in second and third. All three times met the NCAA provisional mark.

“I just tried to line up, relax and go as fast as possible,” Blackard said. “I felt really good throughout the race and was able to add an extra push at the end.”

“Heather ran a very good race,” Helmer said. “Jill got out front early and did the work, that was the plan, and Heather and Treniere followed right along. This is the first time [individually that Blackard and Clement] will find themselves on the national list, and that’s a big deal.”

The women’s team also fared especially well in the mile, 3,000m and distance medley.

In the mile, freshman Jodee Adams-Moore (4:56.68) and graduate student Emily Enstice (4:59.30) finished first and third, respectively, to meet ECAC standards. Freshman Lauren Graham (5:05.64) and junior Allison Snyder (5:05.70) followed close behind, garnering Big East qualifying times.

The distance medley relay team of senior Tyrona Heath and sophomores Rose Wetzel, Kori Hamilton and Sara Scholl clocked 11:47.31 to take first and meet ECAC requirements. Wetzel and Scholl also took part in the 3,000m run, where Wetzel earned runner-up honors and Scholl finished third.

But Derrickson’s performance remained the highlight of the meet.

“It was a fun meet. I really enjoyed it, and setting a school record is exciting,” Derrickson said. “Now I just need to keep practicing hard and try to avoid injuries.”

Assistant Coach Todd Crannell, who oversees the pole vault athletes, says he is pleased with Derrickson’s development since her arrival in the fall.

“Erica’s very focused and determined,” Crannell said. “She’s only a freshman, has been doing very well so far, and the encouraging thing is knowing that the time and talent is there for her to do even better.”

Sophomore Ali Najjar, a transfer from Virginia Tech, and junior Robert Wingate-Robinson led the men’s team in the sprints, notching a pair of IC4A qualifying times in the 400m run and the 200m dash. Wingate-Robinson crossed the line of the 200m dash in 22.19 to take second and Najjar timed 48.99 to win the 400m run.

“It was a challenge for Ali to come in to Georgetown and take on a whole new set of demands,” Valmon said. “But he seems to be getting comfortable with the adjustment and is beginning to settle in.”

Seniors David Rodriguez and Jeff Reinhardt added more support, with Rodriguez (8:27.53) taking second in the 3,000m run and Reinhardt (1:53.95) finishing third in the 800m.

Following his success in the distance medley at the Adidas Indoor Games in Boston last weekend, senior Corey Smith added his name to another event on the NCAA qualifiers list, timing 4:05.03 in the mile run on Saturday. Junior Dylan Welsh followed closely behind with an IC4A qualifying time of 4:10.03.

“This is my last year, so I’m treating every race as an end rather than a means to an end,” Smith said. “I work on having fun and doing the best I can every time out.”

Next weekend Smith will join other standout distance runners sophomore Franklyn Sanchez, graduate student Kyle Smits, senior Chris Miltenberg and junior Mike Smith in the 3,000m run as Georgetown travels to New York City for the Armory Collegiate Invitational.

The meet will feature some of the top teams in the nation, including Tennessee’s No. 1 ranked men’s team, South Carolina’s No. 1 ranked women’s team, and perennial powers Stanford and LSU.

“This weekend we’ll face some tough competition, but we’re ready for the challenge,” Hargrove said.

“We have some great athletes who haven’t yet stepped up to that level,” Helmer said. “I think we’re going to respond well to the competition next weekend and see some great times.”