Track team prospers at Western Invitational
By Rashon Burno
Staff Writer 

      DePaul’s track and field teams had five champions at the annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational last weekend at Western Illinois.

      Jeanette Stojecvski won the 3,000 meters, Kim Smith took the 100 meters, Memayah Crable won the triple jump and Megan Greeley took home the javelin toss. Also, the 4x100 meter relay team won their event.

      Crable broke school record in the triple jump, leaping 39-1 ½. Crable now has the indoor and outdoor records. Coach Gordon Thomson believed that Crable being an experienced veteran helped her win the event. 

      “It’s a very demanding and tough event,” Thomson said.

      Thomson said the team has benefited from warmer weather of late.

       “Across the board everyone is improving dramatically,” said Thomson. “Spring temperatures were working for us.”

      Thomson is hopeful that anyone on his team can make the Conference USA tournament in May.

      “Every single person looks good,” Thomson said. “Everybody on our team has the capability of scoring in the conference meet. Jonathan Reeves is starting to come on. We have a group of 400-meter hurdlers: Anton Daniloff, Aaron Cherrington and Dirk Bartolazzi, and on the ladies 'side we have Katie Keehan and Kate Belohlav.”

      The crew of Daniloff, Cherrington and Bartolazzi won their event at Western.

      Thomson added that sprinter Smith is coming into the best sprinting of her life.

      “Kim is on fire,” Thomson said. Smith won the 100-meter dash at Western in a time of 12.18.

      Smith said she has been surprised at her success. “I really did not think I was going to have the year I am having,” Smith said.

      Thomson said two of the most improved Demons this year have been throwers Carey Ryan and Nelson Morales. In fact Ryan has provisionally qualified for the NCAA tournament in the hammer throw. “Both have broken the school record in the hammer throw by more than 10 feet this year,” Thomson said.