Saturday, March 18, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 18, 2006) - The ETSU track and field teams concluded two days of action at the Charlotte 49er Classic, Saturday at Irwin Belk Track.  Five ETSU athletes managed top-10 finishes in the strongly fielded competition.

Anna Marie Ricciardi (Canfield, Ohio) was the top place finisher on the women's side, tallying a fifth-place showing in the high jump.  The junior soared over the bar at 5-5 (1.65m), just two inches off the winning height.

Jenny Knox (Connelly Spring, N.C.) represented ETSU in the 100-meter final, posting a seventh-place finish in 12.12 seconds.  Elsewhere on the track, Christine Ward (Candler, N.C.) recorded a 15^th-place showing in the 3,000-meter run, clocking 10:57.93.

The Lady Buc sprinters combined for a strong performance in the 4x100-meter relay, going 47.98, good for seventh place in Saturday's field.  ETSU also managed to finish 11^th in the 4x400-meter relay, running 4:03.92.

On the men's side, Peter Dalton (Dublin, Ireland) finished third in the 2000-meter steeplechase, recording a time of 6:20.70.  Josh Hicks (Riceville, Tenn.) was also one of the Bucs' top finishers in the distances, going 1:56.62 for 800-meters, enough for 15^th place in the field.  In the relays, the Bucs managed a 12^th-place effort in the 4x400, clocking a time of 3:27.40.

Shane Estes (Maryville, Tenn.) notched a top-10 showing in the high jump, claming sixth place with a jump of 6-2.75 (1.90m).  Drew Beamer (Johnson City, Tenn.) tallied an eight-place showing in the pole vault, clearing 13-1.5 (4.00m).

The Bucs head back to North Carolina next weekend, taking on the competition at Raleigh Relays, hosted by N.C. State.  The meet kicks off on Friday, March 24.