Jan. 26, 2002

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Senior Kelly Ann Charles, junior Seth Billy and freshman Shauna Smith set new University of Wyoming All-Time school records in their respective events at the Air Force Invitational Track Meet in Colorado Springs, Colo, highlighting a successful two days of competition for UW.

Smith broke her own school record in the women's 400-meter dash which she previously set last weekend with a time of 54.63. Smith's time provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships, making her the sixth UW athlete to provisionally qualify this season. Billy raced to a time of 47.91 in the men's 400-meter dash, breaking Chris Welsh's record of 48.05 set in 1995. Due to an illness Smith didn't compete in the finals of the 400 while Billy placed in a tie for fourth. Charles set a new record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.55 on way to her second-place finish.

In the overall team standings the Cowgirls placed third out of 13 teams with 95 total points behind women's champion Fresno State (126) and runner-up Colorado (102.50.) The Wyoming men placed fifth out of 12 teams with 75 points. CU won the men's title with 103 points followed by Air Force (98), BYU (96.50) and Alabama (91.50).

"Overall I thought our team came out and gave some very solid performances," said Wyoming head coach Don Yentes. "We really got things going this weekend and are starting to come on. I believe if our women would have been healthy and we had a full team we would have won this meet. The men have improved in ever meet this season and like the women have been a little shorthanded due to illness and injury."

Wyoming won six individual events and placed second in four events at the two-day invitational. Senior Quincy Howe automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the triple jump, winning the event with a mark of 53-7. Also winning for UW was freshman Jessica Fox in the women's 400-meter dash (56.59, third best all-time in UW history), sophomore Andrea Batt in the women's shot put (52-1 1/4), senior Julie Thomas in the women's 20-pound weight throw (63-5 1/2), junior Collin Thomas in the men's 200-meter dash (21.55) and junior John Griffith in the men's 35-pound weight throw.

On the men's side junior Craig Suter took second in the shot put with a toss of 56-1 3/4 and junior Dan Williams placed third in the 35-pound weight throw with a mark of 56-8 1/2.

Other quality performances by Wyoming were given by junior Kim Demers, who placed fifth in the women's pentathlon (3113 points, 2nd in UW history), senior Enioma Haynes in the women's triple jump (placed 4th, 38-11 1/2, 2nd in UW history) and freshman Bret Zowada in the men's pentathlon (placed 6th, fourth-best in UW history).

The Wyoming track and field team will next travel to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the Adidas Invitational on Feb. 1-2.