B-W: Textoris and Budic Both Finish Second in the Steeplechase at the 2003 D-III National Track Meet

BEREA, OHIO--Baldwin-Wallace College had four athletes compete today at the 2003 Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Meet at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Seniors Jessica Textoris (Akron/Medina Highland) and Tim Budic (Willowick/Eastland North) both competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase and will also compete in the 5000 meter run. Senior Tara Gruskiewicz (Williamsfield/Pymatuning Valley) competed in the 800 meter run and junior Jen Southall (Willoughby South) competed in the steeplechase as well.

Textoris finished in second place today in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:38.47. She finished just behind Division III champion Jenn Cambell from Williams College with a time of 10:33.67. Textoris will also compete in the 5000 meter run tomorrow.

A year ago, Textoris finished 10th in the steeplechase at the national meet at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. The two-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion in the steeple and 2003 OAC Champ in the 5000 meters is currently ranked second in Division III with a qualifying time of 10:40.89. Textoris is also ranked 20th in the 5000 meters with a time of 17:18.82.

Budic finished in second place in the steeplechase with a time of 8:54.83, just being edged out at the finish line by Justin Easter (Bates College) who finished .56 seconds ahead of Budic in 8:54.27. Budic also beat his old career-best time of 9:00.63 which he set at the 2003 Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Meet in Berea two weeks ago. Budic is ranked 36th nationally in the 5000 meters and will compete in that event tomorrow.

Southall finished in sixth place in the steeplechase in a time of 10:53.24 and is currently ranked fourth in Div. III in the steeplechase and ran the best race of her career last Friday at the annual B-W Twilight Invitational Meet at Finnie Stadium when she was timed in 10:49.76. Southall also competed in the 800 meter run this spring with a personal season-best time of 2:22.20.

Gruskiewicz finished in third place in her heat of the 800 meter run trials with a time of 2:13.56. Gruskiewicz just missed advancing to the finals tomorrow and is currently ranked seventh in Division III in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:12.82. That time broke both the Baldwin-Wallace College and Ohio Athletic Conference record in that event.

Overall, B-W has 10 competitors qualified for the national meet. In addition to Textoris, Gruskiewicz, Southall and Budic, senior Sarah Guba (Berea) qualified in the javelin (126'4.5"), junior Nikki Bell(McDonald) in the 400 meter dash (57.03), senior Lynn Katanik (Parma Padua) in the 5000 meters, senior Nicole Drouhard (Canfield/Austintown Fitch) in the the 10,000 meter run, Dash McNeal (Crooksville) in the highjump (6'8.25") and Alex Johnson, who competed in the discus on day one of the National Meet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on B-W athletics, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by phone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. You can also access all the latest Yellow Jacket track information ny logging onto the College InterNet Web Site at www.bw.edu/athletics