Feb. 22, 2004

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Providence College men's and women's indoor track teams competed in the final day at the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championship on Sunday, February 22 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. The women's team (37 points) finished in eighth-place, while the men's squad (50 points) placed seventh.

The Providence women were led by junior Kimberly Smith (Auckland, New Zealand), who captured the 3,000 meters in record time to earn the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer. Smith's time of 8:55.88 set at new BIG EAST record by over 17 seconds and she also set a new Carrier Dome record by over two seconds. In addition, Smith, who has broken two PC indoor records this season (5,000 meters, mile), also set a new PC indoor record in the 3,000 meters. The previous PC record (9:04.43) was set in 1989 by Geraldine Hendricken.

In the mile, sophomore Jane Nalder (Wellington, New Zealand) placed fifth in a time of 5:00.90. Junior Deirdre Byrne (Wicklow, Ireland) and sophomore Fiona Crombie (Christchurch, New Zealand) each finished third in their respective races. Byrne ran a time of 2:12.45 in the 800 meters, while Crombie recorded a time of 2:50.51 in the 1,000 meters. PC also won the 4X800 meter relay. Byrne, Crombie, Nalder and Smith combined to run a time of 8:53.95 to lead the Friars.

On the men's side, the Friars were led by junior Dylan Wykes (Kingston, Ontario) who won the 3,000 meters in a time of 8:15.17. Wykes finished ahead of teammate Martin Fagan (Mullingar, Ireland), who placed second in 8:18.07. Junior Liam Reale (Hospital, Ireland) was a second-place finisher in the 1,000 meters (2:24.41), finishing less than one second behind Georgetown's Jesse O'Connell (2:23.55). In the 800 meters, sophomore Richard Jones (Wellington, New Zealand) took fourth-place (1:52.89), while freshman Darren Brown (Spring, Texas) placed sixth in the mile in a time of 4:13.33.

The women's team will return to action on February 27-28 at the New England Championship, while the men will compete at the IC4A Championships on March 6-7.

Providence Women's Finishers
EVENT           PLACE   ATHLETE         TIME
3,000 meters    1st     Kim Smith       8:55.88 -- MOST OUTSTANDING TRACK PERFORMER
3,000 meters    11th    Katie Twarog    9:59.74
800 meters      3rd     Deirdre Byrne   2:12.45
1,000 meters    3rd     Fiona Crombie   2:50.51
Mile            5th     Jane Nalder     5:00.90
4X800 meters    1st     Byrne, Crombie  8:53.95
                        Nalder, Smith

Final Team Standings: Miami 170, Notre Dame 111, Pittsburgh 102, Georgetown 83, Villanova 55, West Virginia 51, Syracuse 38, Providence 37, Rutgers 28, Connecticut 27, Boston College 25.5, Virginia Tech 22, Seton Hall 19.5, St. John's 11.

Providence Men's Finishers
EVENT           PLACE   ATHLETE         TIME
3,000 meters    1st     Dylan Wykes     8:15.17
3,000 meters    2nd     Martin Fagan    8:18.07
800 meters      4th     Richard Jones   1:52.89
1,000 meters    2nd     Liam Reale      2:24.41
Mile meters     6th     Darren Brown    4:13.33
4X800 meters    7th     Jones, Liam     7:45.59
                        Brown, Dan Robb

Final Team Standings: Connecticut 160, Notre Dame 153, Georgetown 82, Rutgers 79, Virginia Tech 57, Villanova 56, Providence 50, Miami 43, Seton Hall 38, Pittsburgh 36, Syracuse 23, Boston College 2.