Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 9, 1998

Sidelines

Arizona's track and field teams were hoping for two wins over their in-state rivals on Saturday, but untimely illnesses left the Wildcats depleted as they only managed a split at the annual tri-meet in Flagstaff.

"We just had some guys who were under the weather. Our distance runners weren't even close to what they're capable of", said head coach Dave Murray.

Sophomore distance runner Micheil Jones and junior long jumper Brian Malloy were not at full-strength due to colds.

Although the second place finish of both the women's (5 points behind Northern Arizona) and men's (1 point behind Arizona State) team may look like a big disappointment, Arizona showed its talent through a couple of outstanding results.

"The people that we know are our big guns for the future did very well", Murray said.

Senior shot putter Chima Ugwu exploded with a 62-5 foot attempt, which not only gave him an automatic berth for the Indoor NCAA's in Indianapolis but also possession of the school record, formerly held by his teammate, senior Doug Reynolds.

Reynolds finished in second place with a mediocre 57-9 foot try, but he's already qualified for Indianapolis.

In the pole vault, senior Dominic Johnson and sophomore Jeff Dutiot both scored personal bests to finish in first and second place. Johnson cleared 18' 1/2" and is automatically qualified for the NCAA's.

Freshman Patrick Nduwimana won his first-ever 800m race and showed some much needed leadership qualities, since most of the athletes from the distance runners' squad weren't fit and Abdi Abdirahman was absent due to academic issues.

On the women's side, junior Amy Skieresz ran a solid 3000m, winning in 10:03.10. Murray said Skieresz's time excluding the altitude factor would have been around 9:40, which would be a provisional mark for the NCAA's.

Sophomore sprinter Carolyn Jackson gained a provisional mark in the 400m with her time of 54.46. - Roland Lechner

By the Numbers

10:

The number of consecutive games in which Arizona catcher Greg Clark has driven in at least one run. Clark has started the season on a tear for the 11-0 Wildcats, hitting .444 with five home runs and 17 RBI. Clark will try to extend the streak tomorrow against New Mexico State.