Merritt, DeBrielle Lead ECU at Clemson Invitational
January 23, 2005 | Men's Track and Field
Clemson, S.C. -- Freshman LaShawn Merritt and senior Tara DeBrielle established new records, while freshman Matt Dennish recorded a first-place standing in the one mile run to lead the East Carolina men's and women's indoor track teams to strong finishes at the Clemson Invitational over the weekend.
Merritt, who set a school-record with a 20.92 performance in the 200-meter dash last week during his collegiate debut at the Virginia Tech Invitational, established a new Clemson Indoor Record with a 47.23 time in the 400 meters. His first-place finish and time also served as a NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark in the event.
Dennish captured the one mile run competition with a time of 4:19.14, edging teammate Kyle MacKenzie who clocked in at 4:19.36. The Pirates' tandem finished ahead of six Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conference participants who represented Auburn (three), Clemson (one) and South Carolina (two).
Debrielle finished second in the women's 800-meter race but set a new East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) mark with a time of 2:12.96.
East Carolina's men's squad stood fifth with 76 points, 29.5 ahead of sixth-place Virginia Tech and 47.5 more than seventh-place N.C. State. The Lady Pirates finished eighth overall, but also defeated the Hokies and Wolfpack in the team standings.
Other top 10 Pirates' finishers include Chris Johnson (5th in the 60-meter dash/6.91), Thomas Lewis (8th/60m7.00), DeAndre Hyman (5th/200m/22.16), Reginald Williams (10th/200m/22.70), B.J. Henderson (3rd/400m/47.79), Vance Stephenson (6th/800m/1:58.80), Kyle Yunaska (9th/800m/2:00.94), Hector Cotto (4th/60m hurdles/8.04) and Eric Frasure (10th/shot put/14.74m). The ECU 4x400-meter relay team, composed of Merritt, Henderson, Dominick Richmond and Jeffery Walls, finished second with a time of 3:14.95.
"We certainly held our own against some of the toughest competition in the nation," said ECU Head Men's Track Coach Bill Carson. "I was pleased with the way our kids competed against the SEC and ACC."
For the Lady Pirates, Johanna Allen (7th/mile run/5:11.35), Jessica Collins (5th/3000m/10:21.63), Lindsey Rosales (8th/pole vault/3.40m) and Tammie Mentzel (9th/pole vault/3.35m) all earned top 10 standings. The East Carolina also enjoyed a pair of top performances in the 4x400-meter relay as the team of Portia Baker, Aisha Bilal-Mack, DeBrielle and Terri Davenport stood fifth with a time of 3:50.99 while the quartet of Simone Baptiste, Erica Montgomery, Chante Sessoms and Jenee Moore finished seventh (3:56.44).
"I thought we competed very well against some of the best in the USA," said women's coach Matt Munson. "It was a terrific experience, one which will help us progress well as we go further into the season."
The East Carolina men's squad will return to action Jan. 28-29 at the North Carolina Invitational while the women's team will compete in the Patriot Games at Fairfax, Va., Saturday, Jan. 29.
TOP 10 EAST CAROLINA RESULTS (men)
60 Meter Dash
5. Chris Johnson, 6.91
8. Thomas Lewis, 7.00
200 Meter Dash
5. DeAndre Hyman, 22.16
10. Reginald Williams, 22.70
400 Meter Dash
1. LaShawn Merritt, *47.23
3. B.J. Henderson, 47.79
*NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time
1 Mile Run
1. Matt Dennish, 4:16.14
2. Kyle MacKenzie, 4:19.36
800 Meter Run
6. Vance Stephenson, 1:58.80
9. Kyle Yunaska, 2:00.94
60 Meter Hurdles
4. Hector Cotto, 8.04
4x400 Meter Relay
2. East Carolina, 3:14.95
(LaShawn Merritt, Dominick Richmond, B.J. Henderson, Jefferey Walls)
Shot Put
10. Eric Frasur, 14.74m
TOP 10 EAST CAROLINA RESULTS (women)
1 Mile Run
7. Johanna Allen, 5:11.35
800 Meter Run
2. Tara DeBrielle, *2:12.96
*ECAC record
3000 Meter Run
5. Jessica Collins, 10:21.63
4x400 Meter Relay
5. East Carolina "A", 3:50.99
(Portia Baker, Aisha Bilal-Mack, Tara DeBrielle, Terri Davenport)
7. East Carolina "B", 3:56.44
(Simone Baptiste, Erica Montgomery, Chante Sessoms, Jenee Moore)
Pole Vault
8. Lindsey Rosales, 3.50m
9 Tammie Mentzel, 3.35m
