Over the weekend, a record 2200 athletes--250 more than the previous high--will converge on Wallace Wade Stadium for the annual Duke Invitational track meet. The athletes will come from over 70 colleges and universities and 63 track clubs, and up to a dozen Olympic hopefuls.
Among the athletes expected to perform well are a quartet of Blue Devils with the potential to win their events or set new Duke records. Nick Schneider will compete in the 1500 and 3000-meter races on Friday and Saturday. Schneider, who set the Duke record in the 3000-meter run during this year's indoor season but has yet to run the race outdoors since coming to Duke, is in a strong position to win the race at this meet, according to head coach Norm Ogilvie.
Schneider will also attempt to run the 1500 meters in 3:43, a time that roughly equates to a four-minute mile. Running the race that fast would require the junior to shed 2 seconds from his previous best, but the strength of the field should make that possible.
"It definitely helps to have guys who have run good times in the past carry me when I'm trying for a quick time," Schneider said. "I know they'll run the race fast."
All-American pole vaulter Brent Warner will also look for a personal milestone, attempting to become the first Duke vaulter to clear 17 feet at an outdoor meet. According to Ogilvie, the senior, who has vaulted over 17 feet three times in indoor meets, has a good shot at reaching his goal in his last home meet.
Freshman Debra Vento, who holds the Duke record for the high jump, is coming off a win last weekend in Raleigh and also has a chance to win her event. Ogilvie says that Vento may have the best shot of all the athletes at winning her event.
"I jumped well last weekend," Vento said. "I'd just like to continue that this week and improve this outdoor season."
Rounding out the talented quartet is All-American miler Shannon Rowbury, who will run in a 1500-meter race, which features as much talent as the men's 1500-meters. Rowbury, the school's record holder in the indoor mile, will look to break the school's outdoor record as well.
The meet will also be the first time that the new track in Wade Stadium is used in a competition. According to Ogilvie, the new track should encourage fast times.
"This is everyone's favorite meet of the year and a very big meet for Duke track," Ogilvie said. "Kids dream of winning at this meet, especially in an Olympic year where there are better fields than normal."
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