Pearson, Watson Lead Women's Track At BIG EAST Indoors
Feb. 18, 2001
Syracuse, NY – Sophomore Patricia Pearson (Jacksonville, FL) and senior All-American Natalie Watson (Coral Springs) recorded the two fastest times in the nation in finishing first and second in the 800-meters at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships in Syracuse, NY.
Pearson won the event with a meet record time of 2:06.65 while Watson, the defending BIG EAST Champion, finished second with a time of 2:06.73. Both times automatically qualify them for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, March 9-10, in Fayetteville, AR.
Miami, which finished third in the team competition for the second consecutive season, dominated the horizontal jumping events posting four of the top seven finishers in the triple jump and three of the top five finishers in the long jump.
Junior All-American Kareen Clarke (Lithonic, GA) successfully defended her BIG EAST Championship in the triple jump finishing first with an NCAA provisional qualifying leap of 12.84 meters (42-01.50). Clarke also took fourth in the long jump with a leap of 5.87 meters (19-03.25).
Other Hurricanes placing in both events included sophomore Gina Harris (Philadelphia, PA) who finished second in the long jump (6.07 meters/19-11.00) and sixth in the triple jump (12.09 meters/39-08.00), and Antonnikka Owens (Orlando, FL) who finished fifth in the long jump (5.71 meters/18-09.00) and fourth in the triple jump (12.48 meters/40-11.50).
The Hurricanes’ 4×400-meter relay also recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in finishing second with a time of 3:41.97. The team consisted of junior Jenise Winston (League City, TX), sophomore Jamilla Wade (Philadelphia, PA), Watson and sophomore Saraque Whittaker (Ft. Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas).
Whittaker and Winston also performed well individually. Winston finished fifth in the 400-meters (55.91) while Whittaker placed third in the 500-meters (1:12.60). Watson took second in the 500-meters with a time of 1:12.56.
Miami also received strong performances from sophomore Adrienne Moss (Miami Southridge) in the throwing events. Moss finished seventh in the shot put with a throw of 13.41 meters (44-00.00) and eighth in the weight throw with a toss of 14.94 meters (49-00.25).
Miami returns to action on March 1 at the Nike Fast Times in Gainesville, FL. The meet will be the final tune-up for the Hurricanes before the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
