Asumnu has `Glorious\' Meet at C-USA Indoor T&F Championships

March 1, 2008

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HOUSTON - Senior Gloria Asumnu won three championships, set conference record in the 60-meter dash and was named co-Performer of the Meet Saturday to lead the Tulane University women's track and field team to a sixth place finish at the Conference USA Championships held at the Bill Yeoman Field house on the University of Houston campus.

Asumnu won the 60-meter dash in a C-USA-record time of 7.22 seconds, tying the mark she set at the same meet in 2007. With that win, she became the first student-athlete in C-USA history to win four championships in a single event. She also won the 200m championship in 23.78 seconds, raising her NCAA Championship provisional qualifying time, and ran the first leg of the C-USA champion 4x400-meter relay team. Asumnu will complete her Tulane career at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14-15.

"She is a senior, so it is a two-edged sword. You never want someone like that to leave the program," Tulane head coach Heather Van Norman said. "I would like to keep her forever, but I can't. I am ecstatic and elated for her. It is a great way to end her career at Tulane.

"She looked solid running the 200 today. She has never let anything keep her from her goals this year. She reached her C-USA goals, and now is on to nationals, and will try to win a national championship. I am very proud of her."

The 4x400 relay team finished first with a time of 3:46.39, and was comprised of Asumnu, sophomore Valencia Wilson, freshman Aieshia Brooks and junior Vanessa Kienast. Wilson also finished second in the 400m with a season-best time of 55.49. Sophomore Jasmine Momoh placed sixth in the 60m with a time of 7.59.

Freshman Laurie Dalrymple finished eighth in the 3,000-meter run with a personal and season team-best time of 9:56.07. Senior Aubrey Phillips placed 11th in the 3,000m with a time of 10:08.02. Freshman Rebecca Coady ran the one mile run in 5:15.57.

As a team the Green Wave scored 51 points to place sixth, just three points shy of fourth place, and four spots higher than their 10th place finish in 2007.

"When you finish sixth and only a few points behind fourth, you feel disappointed. We had some crash and burns, like every team I'm sure. But we had a lot of people score points where we needed. A lot of people stepped up and did what the coaches asked of them," Van Norman said.

Sophomore Nicolette Taku placed 11th in the triple jump with a mark of 12.01m (39-05.00), while freshman Zandria Debowles recorded a high jump of 1.63m (5-04.25) to finish 13th. Junior Katarina Busljeta recorded a shot put throw of 11.48m (37-08.00). Asumnu was named co-Performer of the Meet along with Blessing Okagbare of UTEP.

Tulane has a bright future with everyone except Asumnu participating in the outdoor season, and several of its top runners to return in 2009.

"You can't replace [Asumnu]. It just makes you go back and work harder with all of the other girls," Van Norman said. "For Laurie Dalrymple, a freshman, to finish eighth and PR by eight seconds is great. The 4x400 is the last event, so that is really what people remember about the meet, and the way the team ran today really showed people something. How can you not talk about Valencia Wilson? She finished second in the 400, and is only technically a sophomore on the track. I am looking for great things from her. That was fantastic."

The Green Wave now prepare for the outdoor season, which begins March 14-15, the same weekend as the NCAA Indoor Championships. All Tulane track and field news, interviews and meet results are available on the web at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.

TULANE RESULTS

TEAM - 6th, 51 points

60 METER DASH
FINALS
1. Gloria Asumnu, 7.22 [10 pts.]
6. Jasmine Momoh, 7.59 [3 pts.]

200 METER DASH
FINALS
1. Gloria Asumnu, 23.78 [10 pts.]

400 METER DASH
FINALS
2. Valencia Wilson, 55.49 [8 pts.]

ONE MILE RUN
19. Rebecca Coady, 5:15.57

3,000 METER RUN
8. Laurie Dalrymple, 9:56.07 [1 pt.]
11. Aubrey Phillips, 10:08.02

4X400 RELAY
1. Tulane, 3:46.39 [10 pts.]
Asumnu, Wilson, Brooks, Kienast

HIGH JUMP
13. Zandria Debowles, 1.63m (5-04.25)

TRIPLE JUMP
11. Nicolette Taku, 12.01m (39-05.00)

SHOT PUT
21. Katarina Busljeta, 11.48m (37-08.00)