The men's and women's track teams have run on North Carolina's Fetzer Field almost every other weekend this spring, but this visit will not feel the same. This weekend the Blue Devils will try to hold their own as they battle some of the strongest opponents in the nation at the 2004 ACC Outdoor Championships.
On the men's side, Nick Schneider is looking to make a run at the 1500-meter title. With solid performances all year, Schneider has the third-fastest time in the ACC with 3:46.59, only one second behind the top ACC runner.
An All-American last year, Brent Warner is looking to replicate his prior success in the pole vault. Currently, the senior has the second-highest vault in the conference at 16-4.75. Virginia's David Sullivan has jumped 16-11 this year, but Warner has been working on his run up approach to the pit, and last week he seemed to have worked out his new technique. With his new approach and experience, Warner is looking to make his final ACC performance a memorable one.
Duke has several top individuals, but it will have a tough battle against Florida State's high caliber men's team. The 21st-ranked Seminoles will be looking to defend their ACC crown behind the legs of sprinter Brian Dzingai and Joep Tigchelaar. Dzingai holds the fastest 200-meter time in the country with 20.36, a time that will likely carry him to the Athens Summer Olympics, performing for Zimbabwe. Tigchelaar holds the fifth fastest 500m time in the country and is the defending ACC champion. Clemson threatens the Seminoles in nearly every event and will fight Florida State for the ACC crown.
The Blue Devils have several other runners at the top of the conference. Freshman Keith Kreiger had a breakout performance in the 5-kilometer run at the Duke Invitational and could vie for a place on the podium. Michael Hatch, one of Duke's top cross country stars, will be running for the first time this spring and could make a splash in the 10k. Also, Senior Casey Reardon is ranked in the top of the ACC in the 800-meter dash.
Shannon Rowbury will lead the women's team at the ACC Championships. Rowbury, who has not run in many meets this spring, will likely make a statement in the 1500-meter run. Currently she is ranked fourth in the ACC with a time of 4:21.84, but she will face a tough field which has nine runners that have already qualified for NCAA Regionals. Rowbury also has the fourth-fastest time in the ACC in the 800m dash.
"Rowbury is definitely one of the favorites to win the ACC in the 1500 meter," head coach Norm Ogilvie said.
A pair of Blue Devil freshmen, Debra Vento and Kelly Reynolds, are destined to do well in their first ACC Championship. Vento will have her work cut out for her jumping against Georgia Tech's Chaunte Howard, the top jumper in the country, but based on past jumps, she will likely earn a top finish. Kelly Reynolds, who has been improving all year long, has the third-best hammer throw in the ACC, with 171-9, but is also significantly behind the top two performers in the conference.
"Kelly has the potential to do some damage in the meet this weekend," Ogilvie said.
Clara Horowitz has the fourth-best performance in the ACC in the 5-kilometer race, and Duke also holds the third through sixth-best 10k runners in the conference. Allison Nesbitt has been improving all season and currently sits with the ninth-best time in the conference. The North Carolina women's team will also be looking to defend its title on its home turf. With a win this weekend, North Carolina will complete the "triple crown", winning this collegiate year's cross country, indoor track and outdoor track championships.
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