Horowitz, Clarke Knock Down School Records At Terrier Classic

Friday, January 27

Reno, Nev.

All Day

Duke University

Day One

Clarke In Seventh Halfway Through Decathlon In First Outdoor Meet

Horowitz, Clarke Knock Down School Records At Terrier Classic

1/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field

By: Duke Sports Information

BOSTON -- Senior Clara Horowitz shaved 11 seconds off the Duke indoor 5,000-meter record Saturday at the women's Terrier Classic, crossing the line in 16:04.35 to automatically qualify for the 2006 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The old record of 16:15.39 was set by Paige Miller in 2004. Horowitz became just the third Atlantic Coast Conference women's track and field performer in 2006 to earn an NCAA automatic mark and the first in a running event.

Horowitz, who took second in the 5,000m, was backed up by a strong group of Duke women at the Terrier Classic, including eight who qualified for at least the ECAC Championships March 4-5. The Blue Devils had a powerful finish in the 500m, placing three in the top seven, all with ECAC-qualifying times. Junior Lindsay Owen led the group in a personal-best 1:14.7 and third place, with freshman Michelle Seibert just behind in 1:15.17 and fifth place. Freshman Libby Jenke rounded out the trio, running 1:15.9 to finish seventh.

In the mile, senior Elizabeth Wort notched another ECAC-qualifying time with a 4:52.98, good enough for fifth place. Another top-five competitor, freshman Molly Lehman completed the 800m in a time of 2:12.77 to take third and a spot in the ECAC Championships. Senior Laura Stanley also registered a berth to the ECAC meet with a 12th-place time of 9:40.75 in the 3,000m.

In the field events, junior Debra Vento once again led the way, matching her NCAA provisional qualifying high jump of 5-10 from last weekend to top the field at the Terrier Classic in that event. Classmate Kelly Reynolds took fourth place in the weight throw with a throw of 51-2.75, the best by a Blue Devil so far this season.

The Terrier Classic was one of three meets Duke track and field competitors participated in this weekend. On the second day of the UNC Fast Times Saturday, sophomore Tyler Clarke bested his own school record from last year in the heptathlon, earning 4,787 points and first place. His previous record was 4,711.

Freshman Geary Gubbins registered a top-10 performance in the mile run, finishing in 4:19.96 and ninth place. Senior Chas Salmen (4:23.7, 17th), Steve Brown (4:24.18, 18th), junior Patrick Parish (4:25.72, 20th), freshman Kevin McDermott (4:26.6, 21st) and senior Cameron Bell (4:27.05, 22nd) joined Gubbins in the top 25.

At the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., sophomore Lara Jones tied her indoor career best of 12-3.5, an ECAC-worthy mark that she earned last weekend at the Terrapin Invitational. Jones attended the summit with junior Jonathan Fay and sophomore Ian Cassidy, who vaulted 15-7 and 15-0, respectively.

The Blue Devils return to action next weekend at the Armory Collegiate Invitational in New York.

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