Johnson, Martin Race To Titles At Men's BIG EAST Indoor Track Championships

Feb. 17, 2002

SYRACUSE, New York (www.hurricanesports.com) – Sprinters Andre Johnson and Gus Martin raced to individual titles Sunday afternoon to lead the Miami Hurricanes to a seventh-place team finish at the BIG EAST Indoor Track Championships at the Carrie Dome in Syracuse, New York. Seven Miami athletes at the meet scored points for the Hurricanes in one of the strongest outings by a Miami team at the conference indoor championships.

“We did about as well as we could do as an indoor team,” said head coach Mike Ward. “The guys we took performed very well. Andre winning the 60 really adds something to his resume and Gus picked up a huge victory in the hurdles. I couldn’t be happier with the way our guys performed. We had an excellent meet.”

Johnson’s 60-meter victory, earned in a time of 6.83 seconds, led a strong showing by the Hurricanes in the sprints. Johnson, Willis McGahee and Roscoe Parrish placed first, fourth and sixth in the 60, respectively, to give UM 18 points in the team standings. McGahee ran the 60 in 6.90 to place fourth while Parrish was sixth in 6.94. Johnson is the second UM athlete to earn a 60-meter indoor BIG EAST title, joining Santana Moss who won the 1999 title.

Martin’s victory in the 60-meter high hurdles came in a time of 7.96 seconds, edging Villanova’s Antoine Johnson (7.98). Miami’s Aaron Moser placed eighth in 8.29. The win by Martin gave UM its first BIG EAST 60-meter high hurdles champion ever. In the 200, Martin placed fourth in a time of 21.75.

Miami scored 14 team points in the pole vault as Jabari Ennis placed second with a best of 17-4 ˝ (5.30 meters) and Aaron Moser was third with a clearance of 16 feet, 2 ľ inches (4.95m). The runner-up finish by Ennis was his second consecutive at the BIG EAST indoor meet. Moser, a decathlete by trade, completed a comeback from major elbow surgery to post one of his best pole vaulting performances ever.

Sunday's Miami Men's Results from the BIG EAST Championships:Men's Team Scoring (Final)1. Connecticut, 136.5 points, 2. Villanova, 125, 3. Notre Dame, 101.75, 4. Georgetown, 90, 5. Seton Hall, 66, 6. Rutgers, 60, 7. MIAMI, 49, 8. Pittsburgh, 35, 9. St. John's, 33, 10. Syracuse, 26, 11. West Virginia, 20.75, 12. Virginia Tech, 19, 13. Providence, 16, 14. Boston College, 1.

60-Meter Dash1. Andre Johnson, 6.83, 4. Willis McGahee, 6.90, 6. Roscoe Parrish, 6.94

200-Meter Dash4. Gus Martin, 21.75

60-Meter Hurdles1. Gus Martin, 7.96, 8. Aaron Moser, 8.29

Pole Vault2. Jabari Ennis, 17-0 ľ (5.20m), 3. Aaron Moser, 16-2 ľ (4.95m)